“It’s not the trend we want to be seeing,” said Don Callaghan, who oversees immunization programs for the IDPH. Mr. Callaghan predicted the state will face increased pressure to strengthen restrictions on vaccination exemptions if the rates of religious exemptions continue to rise. Mr. Callaghan told the Register that while 1.3 percent of Iowan school children have religious exemption to vaccination, the national average for such exemptions is 1.5 percent.
In order to obtain vaccine exemption for children in Iowa, parents simply have to sign a statement. They do not have to cite specific religious teachings against vaccination.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, all states but California, Mississippi and West Virginia allow for religious exemptions from vaccines.
Conflict surrounding the nation’s vaccination rates continues to spin through the news cycle as renascent cases of the mumps and measles find their way into the nation’s headlines.
Find more information on vaccine exemptions and the measles here.
More artilces on infection control:
University of Utah Health Care named 1 of 3 hospitals in Olympic medical network
Cholesterol medication could impede Lyme disease spread
Resurgent yellow fever outbreak could become global health emergency
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