HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – New data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services shows that Michigan has seen a 39 percent decrease in the number of vaccination waivers submitted this year compared to the same time last year.
This means that more parents are getting their school-aged children vaccinated instead of signing a waiver to prevent certain immunizations. According to MDHHS, the decrease in waivers is a result of a rule change in January of 2015 that requires parents seeking a non-medical waiver for their child’s vaccinations to meet with local health department staff before obtaining the waiver.
So far this school year, there have been nearly 8,000 fewer vaccination waivers for children entering Michigan’s schools. Although there are now more kids who are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, schools are still seeing outbreaks of whooping cough and chicken pox from the children who aren’t immunized.
– Caitlyn Burry
