[D]ear Readers,
Overall, Vermont’s vaccination rates are high – 94.5% of the state’s K-12 students are fully vaccinated, and 97% have the MMR vaccine, which protects against mumps, measles, and rubella.
But top-line numbers hide wide variability in vaccination rates, and health officials are warning that under-immunized communities are susceptible to outbreaks of measles. About 110 schools fall below recommended 95% vaccination level.
A record number of measles cases nationally have been recorded this year. Public health officials largely blame the anti-vaccine movement and the rise of misinformation about the health risks of vaccines online.
Our reporter Lola Duffort examined very low immunization rates at private schools and even some public schools that are well below the recommended threshold to protect public health for children.
We developed a searchable database so that you can find out what the vaccination rate is at any school.
Thanks to you, our supportive readers, over the past four days we were able to raise $10,380 toward our Spring Drive and meet our donor match. By meeting this match we are significantly closer to ending the fund drive. We only need to raise $19,446 by this Friday, May 31!
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Many thanks,
Anne Galloway
Founder and Editor of VTDigger.org
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