SALT LAKE CITY — Utah experienced an increase in school vaccine waivers for kindergartners starting public school last year for the first time in three school years.
“We should acknowledge that there was a marked increase in kindergarten vaccine exemptions and a drop in appropriate vaccine coverage for kindergartens in our state,” said Rich Lakin, director of immunizations for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
While it has gone up, Lakin said it hasn’t risen by an “alarming” amount.
According to data obtained by KSL.com, the state average for vaccine exemptions over the last five school years was around 5.3%. During the 2021-22 school year, this rose to 5.9% — a 0.6 percentage point increase from the average.
Read the full story here: KSL News.
Written by LOGAN STEFANICH, KSL.com.
Copyright KSL.com.