FRESNO (KMJ) — The vaccination rate in California’s kindergarten children is at its highest point in more than 15 years.
Figures from the state’s Department of Public Health shows the level of immunized students attending their first official year of school in the 2016 – 2017 year stands at 96%. That’s up from the 2015 – 2016 year.
“I am encouraged to see that California parents are making sure their children get the vaccinations they need,” says Director and Dr. Karen Smith. “Many vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, can easily spread in school settings.”
One of the reasons cited for the boost is the introduction of SB277, the senate bill which ended the personal belief exemption.
“The implementation of SB277 started this school year, and we did see an increase in children being immunized,” says Latisha Berber with Fresno County’s Department of Public Health.
“Is it because of SB277, the state is still looking into those numbers but we can say that Fresno County’s rates of children having personal belief exemptions did drop.”
That can help protect those who are unable to have the vaccination, through what’s called “herd immunity.”
“Herd immunity meaning we have a large number of students, individuals, immunized… protecting those individuals who can not be immunized.”
The California Department of Public Health adds that recent visible outbreaks have also helped increase public awareness of the importance of immunizations.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
