A shocking lack of herd immunity has been present in Washington for several years. The amount of kindergartners whose parents did not uphold the state immunization requirements had doubled as of 2008, reaching its apex at 7.6% in the 2008-2009 school year according to the state Health Department.
A new subtle law has proven effective. In order to opt out of state vaccination requirements, parents must obtain a doctor's signature. Since then the opt-out rate has fallen by a quarter. Unsettling as it is, herd immunity is decreasing across the United States. The opt-out rate has increased in states with both strict and lax vaccine laws. In some states it is possible to opt out through merely checking a box, and others require a detailed letter explaining why the parent has chosen not to vaccinate their children. Ironically enough, it is the more affluent and educated parents who typically avoid vaccinating their children. Ideally, making vaccine exemptions more difficult to attain will continue to prove effective.
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