Vaccines Refusals on the Rise in Private Schools

In California, the opt-out rate is three times higher in private schools, and it's threatening herd immunity, say experts

Too many parents of kids enrolled in California's 1600+ private schools are opting out of highly recommended vaccinations, reports USA Today, and at a rate three times higher than their public school counterparts.

Public health officials say an immunization rate of 90% or better is necessary to minimize the risk of potentially fatal outbreaks. And while 5% of the Golden State's public schools have apparently failed to reach that goal, the rate for private schools is 15%.

A majority of the schools with the highest opt-out rate, the report notes, are "Waldorf schools" which adhere to a "holistic," natural-living philosophy that sometimes treats vaccinations with skepticism. It's a belief system on display among parents with children in non-Waldorf schools as well, some of whom have a literal dirt-don't-hurt attitude: "I don't think dirt or getting sick makes you a weak person," said one parent. "Your immune system needs to work with things." But experts disagree.

CA lawmakers have attempted to take on this wave of vaccination refusals by approving a bill, which the governor has yet to sign, that would make it mandatory for parents to discuss the vaccination with a pediatrician or school nurse before being allowed to opt their kids out.

Via USA Today.

Are parents right to be skeptical of vaccinations?

[DerivePI]

Self correcting problem. Just wait until those parents have to deal with a child with measles and consider that they may have holistically caused the death of their kid.

[illuminated]

Wait till their kid gets autisim more like....from mercury saturated vaccinations....

[DerivePI]

@illuminated Since May 2000, all vaccines can be provided without the mercury additive. Should a parent have this concern, they can opt for the alternative product and eliminate the suspected mercury (about 11 cans of tunafish would provide the same amount of Hg as all of the scheduled vaccines). If we could remove emotion from the equation (we can't) the benfits of immunization vs the supposed risks (real or imaginary) are clear. Parents who elect to put their children at a higher risk should receive no support from society.

[classychazy]

This a very dangerous trend for everyone, not just those not getting the vaccination's. These diseases could make comeback with a vengeance. It should be mandatory that all children get these vaccines like it was when I went to school.

[NormalFlora]

How can any parent be this stupid? If it were just the parents being endangered by their unfounded vaccine fears, I would say "Darwin at work." But this hurts or kills innocent kids and is just unforgivable.

[ir0nw0lfe]

Sounds like an educational issue. For most vaccines, I see no issue. Children should be immunized but I am against the govt using force to make that happen. Now whether the school van refuse to admit your child, that is another question entirely.

[DerivePI]

How about a solution as follows - the parent's choice is honored. However, the cost for that choice is recognized by the parent and carried by either his health insurance premiums or his signed agreement to cover costs with costs held in escrow. Actuarials will need to determine the added cost based on potential outbreak and containment. We should always be allowed to be stupid but we shouldn't ask others to pay for it. Key to this is the understanding that children are fully the property of their parents.

[ir0nw0lfe]

@DerivePI I agree with vaccinations usually, HPV maybe an exception. The problem is whether the govt should be able force parents to immunize their children. I do think that if u don't want to immunize your life, consider home schooling. It won't completely a solution but its better than abrogateing the rights of patents and exposing other school children to unnecessary risks.

[DARSB]

Anti-vaxxers... Can't live with 'em, can't weld them into a steel box and feed them gruel through a slot on the top.

[CanisCanemEdit]

According to popular opinion, you should be able to kill a child in utero without any hassle and with the blessing of our government...

...but if a child is born and you don't get the government suggested mystery injection, you are a horrible parent.

Our government apparently lies to us about the economy; reasons for going to war; and want us all to be covered by a different health care system than the elites...

...but we are supposed to trust them absolutely when they tell us our children need to be injected with something.

Hmmmmm......

I think I will consult my trusted, private doctor first.

[Lorth]

Not 100 percent certain how unbiased your doctor is going to be though. Most will toe the party line on vaccinations due to pressure from above.

[Lorth]

America, land of the free as long as you let us inject you with stuff we say is good for you? Parents have not only the right but also the responsibility to do what they feel is best for their children.

[NormalFlora]

And from what Throne of Knowledge do these parents challenge the wisdom of the best immunologists and epidemiologists in the world who work at the CDC and establish the vaccine guidelines?

[Lorth]

@NormalFlora - Research my dear. The CDC only cares about the masses - they are not the slightest bit concerned about the individual. You really believe you can inject mercury into the human body without consequence? You really think mixing five different vaccines into one shot for a tiny child is ok? You really think you have the right to force people to have vaccinations that could potentially cause them harm?

[NormalFlora]

@Lorth Hyperboles aren't making your argument appear the least bit reasonable. The CDC is staffed by physicians and biologists who are also in most cases parents, uncles, aunts etc. To say they don't care about individuals is preposterous.

[Lorth]

@NormalFlora - You kind of didn't answer my questions.

[Registre56]

Good stuff Lorth

[Takosan]

The vaccine industry should clean up the vaccines by taking out all of the harmful ingredients such as mercury, formaldehyde, Aluminum hydroxide and many more. They should only be giving one at a time and not 4 or 5 in one day. The Autism epidemic is rampant in the US, the latest numbers given out by the CDC is 1 in 96, 1% of all of our children are on the Autism spectrum. Believe me people, you will change you tunes if and when you have a child with autism. Blessings

[Lorth]

About time the reasonable people started showing up....

[tomincali]

are these new imported third worlders? like those who have brought things here that we once stomped out. wonder how many will be paying out of pocket for treatment and not begging off others for their failures to protect the kids.

[mimi57]

Be smart and vaccinate your kids. If not, please don't expect the taxpayers to pick up the medical bills...but we'll have to anyway.

[Fishbone345]

I find it interesting that the higher rate of failure to meet vaccination rate is in Private Schools. People who can afford a Private education but choose not to Vaccinate. Can't blame it on cost in this case.

[ibcingu]

If they'd ever seen a kid with measles, mumps. chicken pox, etc. these idiots probably would change their minds. The GOP continues to take us backwards. Vote for OBAMA ---- FORWARD

[Lorth]

I had all three. Doesn't change my mind.

[Barrenechea]

no to vaccines ; no to Evolution ; no to clima changes ;etc. etc. So goes the Country ! Dreadfull !

[MellowGuy]

I would think that private schools could require that the students be vaccinated.
Whooping cough is at a high level in my state, so my wife and I got DPT vaccinations to be sure that we don't get it.
There is a fear of the unknown and fear of being controlled that causes people to avoid having their children vaccinated or having fluoride put in the drinking water.
I am not going to claim that government or corporate experts never lie to us, but a little research should easily clear things up on preventive medicine.