Idaho ranks highest in nation for child vaccination exemptions

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - Idaho ranked the highest in the country for kids getting exemptions from receiving childhood vaccinations, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

Idaho law states children need to meet immunization requirements to attend school, but 12.1% of kindergartners in the state were reported to have gotten exemptions from at least one vaccine. In contrast, 0.1% had exemptions in New York.

Nikki Sayer with Eastern Idaho Public Health says the reasons for exemptions are usually philosophical, religious or medical.

"It's not clear if parents are opposing the vaccines themselves or if they have barriers to giving the vaccine such as transportation or they're afraid of the cost of the vaccines," Sayer said. "If your child is uninsured or has medicaid, there are no financial barriers keeping childhood vaccinations."

Sayer says the more people who are vaccinated in a community, the less likely an outbreak of a preventable disease can happen.

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