Vaccination rates up for Calif. kindergartners
By Phillip Reese, Sacramento Bee
More California kindergartners are getting their vaccinations before starting school, curbing a decadelong trend of falling immunization rates, new state figures show.
The shift comes as California experiences one of its worst whooping-cough outbreaks in generations. Health experts said several prior years of lax immunization primed the state for such an outbreak.
This year’s rise in vaccination rates corresponds to the introduction of a new “personal belief” form that must be completed by parents who don’t want to immunize their children. The result of a new state law, the form must be signed by a doctor who acknowledges telling parents about the risks and benefits of vaccinations; alternatively, parents can state that visiting a doctor violates their religious beliefs. The new form replaces a document that did not require a doctor’s signature.
Even intelligent thinking can occasionally be infectious. Thanks to parents who have suddenly committed to protecting their (and our) children – don’t know where you were, but welcome back to reality.
If i understand it correctly the chicken pox vaccine eliminates the possibility of shingles later. School required vaccination for my daughter and im now second guessing the chicken pox parties most of us probably had.
Disease prevention is a good thing. Vaccinating your kid can seem like a tough choice for Parent(s). All you have to do is look at what happens to kids that do not get vaccinated.
Diphtheria is very rare in America, but is seen in numerous Countries overseas. Whooping Cough (Pertussis) is making a comeback and is so unnecessary. Lockjaw (Tetanus) is rare in America but is a problem in India. We have eliminated Polio in America yet it is still a problem for Somalia and Pakistan.