14 schools across the state have children who have not been vaccinated than those who have been vaccinated.
Phoenix – Arizona’s childhood vaccination rates are falling, not just measles. Fewer children are getting the vaccine they need in full.
The reduction is not due to medical exemptions. They form a small portion of the exemptions permitted. More parents are opting out through personal belief exemptions, according to state health department data.
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That data shows trends by county and schools. In Yabapai County, 21% of kindergarteners skipped at least one necessary vaccine because of “personal beliefs.”
Data shows that three schools in Arizona did not lose at least one vaccine due to personal belief exemptions.
14 schools across the state have children who have not been vaccinated than those who have been vaccinated.
Health officials are concerned, especially after Arizona saw measles in 2024. In Yabapai County, cases were tracked from Sky Harbor Airport to Prescott’s emergency room. There were three incidents in Maricopa County the same year.
“We need a vaccination rate of about 95% to protect our community from measles,” said Nick Stave, assistant medical director at Maricopa County Public Health. “We see that about 10% of children who have not been vaccinated.”
Yabapai County health officials will promote vaccinations, but say parents cannot vaccinate their children.
“People have the right to choose,” said Jail Villa Lobos, Jail at Yabapai County Community Health Services. “We just want to make sure these choices are most accurate and up-to-date.”
Health experts warn that low vaccination rates are likely to occur.
In Texas, the CDC found that 95% of children infected with the latest measles outbreak were not vaccinated.
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