Michigan's in-person vaccine waiver requirement initially reduced exemptions but later backfired amid measles outbreaks
By
By Kate Wells
Baker's choice. Dense with flavour, light on filler.
Summary
Michigan has been battling rising vaccine exemption rates among school-age children for over a decade. The state implemented a policy requiring parents to attend an in-person education class to obtain a vaccine waiver, which initially succeeded in reducing exemption rates. However, the policy backfired as anti-vaccine activists organized and exploited the system, leading to a surge in waivers. Now, with measles outbreaks spreading, state health officials are urging parents to vaccinate babies ahead of schedule, while grappling with record-high opt-out rates among school-age children.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledState health officials urged parents in several counties to vaccinate babies against measles ahead of schedule this spring as cases multiplied in Michigan.
The outbreaks of the highly contagious virus — which can lead to brain swelling, deafness and death — came as parents are opting school-age kids out of vaccinations at a record-high rate.
For years, they've been trying to make it harder for parents to send their kids to school unvaccinated.
It worked — until things got ugly.
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