Metro Detroit an anti-vaccination hotspot, study finds
For the study, researchers looked at counties with more than 400 kindergarteners with non-medical vaccine exemptions. Three of those 15 are in the Detroit area.
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Michigan's Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties are included in a list of counties with the most unvaccinated kindergarteners, according to a new study published by PLOS Medicine that looked at states that permit non-medical exemptions for vaccinations.
The anti-vaccination or "anti-vax" movement has gained traction in recent years, fueled by a fear that vaccinations could have adverse affects. Some states allow kindergartners to enroll without getting the required vaccinations on non-medical, or philosophical or religious grounds, including Michigan.
For the study, researchers looked at counties with more than 400 kindergarteners with non-medical exemptions in 2016 and 2017. Three of those 15 are in metro Detroit: Oakland County placed 5th with 686 NME exemptions, while Macomb County placed 10th at 477 exemptions and Wayne County placed 11th at 466 exemptions.
Vaccine-preventable diseases spread more easily in areas with a high percentage of unvaccinated people. You can read the full study here.
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Lee DeVito
Leyland “Lee” DeVito is the editor in chief of Detroit Metro Times since 2016. His writing has also been published in CREEM, VICE, In These Times, and New City. He once asked porn star Stormy Daniels to spank him with an issue of Metro Times. She obliged.
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