(Oct. 16, 2026) – The measles/mumps/rubella vaccination rate in Kansas kindergarten age children is 90.26 percent for the 2025 – 2026 school year, according to the KDHE Kindergarten Immunization Data Dashboard. This is down from a rate of 94.47 percent in the 2019 – 2020 school year. At the same time, the Statewide Exemption Rate for vaccinations of Kansas kindergarteners increased from 2.12 percent in the 2019 – 2020 academic year to 4.46 percent in the 2025 – 2026 academic year. There are more than 3,800 measles cases in the U.S. as of Oct. 1, making 2026 the worst year for measles since 1991. While KDHE reports that as of Sept. 14, 2026, there have been two cases confirmed of measles in Kansas, our current MMR vaccination rate for kindergarteners is under the recommended community immunity threshold to prevent transmission of measles.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a CIT of 92 to 94 percent, through vaccination or previous infection, is needed to prevent the spread of measles. AAP recommends routine measles vaccination through a two-dose series of MMR or measles/mumps/rubella/varicella vaccine; dose 1 at 12 to 15months of age, and dose 2 at 4 to 6 years of age. The Immunize Kansas Coalition Measles Resource Hub includes tools to help practitioners and clinical staff reduce vaccine hesitancy. Tools included in the hub are short-form "Ask a Doctor" videos, a social media toolkit, commonly asked questions/answers, and links to a host of other resources.
--Karen Braman