Vaccination rates for Oregon students hit a new low this school year, while nonmedical vaccine exemptions have reached a new high, the Oregon Health Authority has reported.
“Although the vast majority of families in Oregon are still choosing to protect families through vaccination, the downward trends are deeply concerning,” said Howard Chiou, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA’s Public Health Division. “We risk seeing the return of diseases such as measles and polio – diseases of the past that once caused widespread harm but are entirely preventable with vaccines.”
Statewide, a majority of K-12 students, or 90.2%, are up to date on required vaccinations…