Trump order to split MMR collides with accelerating drop in Minnesota vaccination rates
Donald Trump on Aug. 10 issued an executive order proposing to space out childhood vaccines and separate the measles-mumps-rubella shot, a move that collides with falling Minnesota vaccination rates.[1]
Minnesota's kindergarten MMR coverage fell to 85.7% in 2025-2026, down from 86.5% the prior year, while the state's overall kindergarten vaccine exemption rate rose to 6.9% from 5.9%.[2] State coverage for other core vaccines was mostly flat or slightly down: DTaP 86.1%, varicella 86.2%, hepatitis B 91.8% and polio 86.7%.[2] Nationally, kindergarten vaccine exemptions hit a record 4.2% with exemptions rising in 41 states and the District of Columbia.[2]
Trump's executive order, announced Aug. 10, specifically proposes spacing out routine pediatric vaccines and separating the MMR shot into a distinct schedule.[1] The CDC's 2025-2026 kindergarten snapshot, summarized by FOX 9, shows Minnesota's MMR decline and rising exemptions, creating a potential policy clash between the federal proposal and current state trends.[2]
FOX 9 published its CDC-derived state and national vaccination trends on Tuesday, Aug. 18.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- CDC’s latest 2025-2026 kindergarten data put Minnesota’s MMR coverage at 85.7%, down from 86.5% the prior year (CDC’s latest 2025-2026 kindergarten data).
- Minnesota’s overall kindergarten vaccine exemption rate has climbed to 6.9%, up a full percentage point from 5.9% in 2024-2025 (Minnesota’s overall kindergarten vaccine exemption rate).
- State-level coverage for other core childhood vaccines in Minnesota is now DTaP 86.1%, varicella 86.2%, hepatitis B 91.8% and polio 86.7% — all reported as flat or slightly down year over year (state-level coverage for other core childhood vaccines in Minnesota).
- Nationally, kindergarten vaccine exemptions have hit a record 4.2%, with exemptions rising in 41 states and the District of Columbia, per CDC data summarized by the AP (Nationally, kindergarten vaccine exemptions).
- FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul published these CDC-derived state and national vaccination trends on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 (FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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- CDC’s latest 2025-2026 kindergarten data put Minnesota’s MMR coverage at 85.7%, down from 86.5% the prior year.
- Minnesota’s overall kindergarten vaccine exemption rate has climbed to 6.9%, up a full percentage point from 5.9% in 2024-2025.
- State-level coverage for other core childhood vaccines in Minnesota is now DTaP 86.1%, varicella 86.2%, hepatitis B 91.8%, and polio 86.7%, all flat or slightly down year over year.
- Nationally, kindergarten vaccine exemptions have hit a record 4.2%, with exemptions rising in 41 states and D.C., according to CDC data summarized by AP.