In the News

LA Times

Vaccination rate jumps in California after tougher inoculation law

April 13, 2017
By Soumya Karlamangla and Rong-Gong Lin II

The vaccination rate for California’s kindergartners soared this fall from the previous year, fueled by a state law that made it significantly tougher for parents to exempt schoolchildren from shots.

It was the highest vaccination rate among kindergartners since at least 1998, and comes after a measles outbreak that began at Disneyland in 2014 focused new attention on the issue.

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San Diego Union-Tribune

Give California an A for its kindergarten immunization rate

April 13, 2017
By The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board

In a win for science and for student safety, school vaccination rates are the highest they have been in California in at least 15 years.

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The Washington Post

California vaccination rate hits new high after tougher immunization law

April 13, 2017
By Lena H. Sun

California's school vaccination rate is at its highest level since 2001 after the state required almost all public school children to get immunizations.

State public health officials released data this week that showed that nearly 96 percent of this year’s kindergartners have received all the required vaccines. That’s a nearly three-point increase over last year, health officials said. The rate is above the level that experts say is needed to prevent measles transmission.

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Cal Coast News

California vaccine rates hit high after mandatory vaccination law

April 13, 2017

In the first year of California’s mandatory vaccination regime, vaccination rates among kindergartners reached their highest level since 2001, according to a report released by the California Department of Public Health.

From the 2015-2016 school year to the 2016-2017 school year, vaccination rates among kindergartners increased from 93 percent to 96 percent. State health officials cite a variety of factors contributing to the increase, including Senate Bill 277, California’s controversial vaccination law.

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LA Times

How California got more children vaccinated after the Disneyland measles outbreak

April 13, 2017
By Rong-Gong Lin II

In early 2015, vaccinations became a national story in California after an outbreak of measles at Disneyland.

The situation drew attention to the number of parents who receive exemptions from getting their kids vaccinated. And that prompted new state legislation.

Now, there are new numbers suggesting these laws are working.

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BuzzFeed News

California Shows The Rest Of The Country How To Boost Kindergarten Vaccination Rates

April 13, 2017

By Peter Aldhous

This chart will bring joy to the hearts of public health officials and infectious disease specialists.

After years in which unfounded fears about vaccines led growing numbers of California parents to decide against immunizing their kids, the state has just recorded two consecutive years in which vaccine refusal has plummeted.

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The Sacramento Bee

California vaccine rates increase after Legislature toughens rules for children

April 12, 2017

By Taryn Luna

School vaccination rates are the highest in California in more than 15 years after the Legislature toughened requirements.

A new report by the California Department of Public Health found that 95.6 percent of kindergartners in the current school year completed vaccination requirements.

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The Mercury News

California’s kindergarten vaccination rates hit new high

April 12, 2017
By Tracy Seipel

Vaccinations among California’s kindergartners have soared to their highest rate ever recorded, less than a year after a controversial state law started requiring every child to get their shots to attend school.

The new figures released Wednesday show 95.6 percent of kindergartners have received all their vaccinations — a jump of nearly 3 percentage points from the previous school year before California enacted one of the country’s strictest vaccine laws.

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Marin Independent Journal

Marin kindergarten vaccination rates hit 17-year high

April 12, 2017

By Adrian Rodriguez

Kindergarten vaccination rates in Marin County rose to their highest level in 17 years, thanks in part to a controversial 2015 state law that made it tougher for parents to opt out of immunizing their kids, health officials said.

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East County Today

California’s Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Hit New High

April 12, 2017

By ECT

SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today posted results for the annual immunization assessment of children attending kindergarten in California in the 2016-17 school year. The report found that vaccination rates among kindergartners are at their highest point since 2001.

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