Many Arizona schoolchildren skipping vaccines
Web Producer: Marissa Pasquet
PHOENIX (AP) - Health officials say thousands of Arizona schoolchildren skipped their recommended vaccines during the 2010-11 school year under a "personal beliefs" exemption allowed by state law.
Studies show in kindergarten alone, more than 2,700 Arizona students skipped vaccines. That's more than double the exemption rate claimed by parents one decade ago.
These aren't children who lacked access to health care or had a medical reason for not immunizing.
Their parents or guardians chose to keep them vaccine-free because of religious or personal beliefs such as fears that the vaccines may do more harm than good.
Public-health officials fear the upswing may stem partly from a 1998 study of 12 children that linked vaccines to autism. The study was later retracted by the British medical journal that published it.
Non-vaccinated clusters:
Here are ZIP codes where schools reported 10 percent or more of students whose parents claimed personal-beliefs exemptions to vaccinations.
85543 (Pima)
Exemption rate: 12.8%
86340 (Sedona)
Exemption rate: 47.6%
85275 (Mesa)
Exemption rate: 30.8%
85211 (Mesa)
Exemption rate: 17.7%
85940 (Vernon)
Exemption rate: 15%
86325 (Cornville)
Exemption rate: 14.7%
86018 (Parks)
Exemption rate: 12.8%
85617 (McNeal)
Exemption rate: 12.5%
85541 (Payson)
Exemption rate: 12.5%
85294 (Concho)
Exemption rate: 12.5%
85342 (Morristown)
Exemption rate: 12%
85624 (Patagonia)
Exemption rate: 11.4%
85318 (Glendale)
Exemption rate: 10.6%
85331 (Cave Creek)
Exemption rate: 10.1%
*Parents are required to submit immunization records to schools for their children when they begin kindergarten, sixth grade and 10th grade. ZIP codes with 10 or fewer children enrolled in kindergarten, sixth and 10th grades have been removed to protect the identity of the children. Figures are reported by public, private and charter schools.
Sources: Arizona Department of Health Services, The Associated Press.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.