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By Stephen Betts | April 07, 2019
Fewer students are vaccinated against life-threatening communicable diseases, based on the philosophical opposition of their parents.
This occurs when measles and pertussis epidemics increase throughout the country.
According to the Maine CDC, 41 pertussis cases were reported state-wide in March, compared with 19 in 2018 and a 20-year median of 20 cases during that same period. Five counties – including Knox, Lincoln and Waldo – had above-average rates.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention stresses that vaccines are safe and that rare cases of people with serious side effects. The CDC also pointed out that there is no evidence of a link between vaccines and autism.
But the increase in the number of parents who choose not to vaccinate their children has led to an increase in epidemics of previously largely eradicated diseases.
In testimony to the Maine legislature, Nancy Beardsley, acting director of the CDC in Maine, said, "When a person chooses not to vaccinate, this decision can endanger the health and safety of entire communities, especially the weakest and most vulnerable.
"Immunization has proven to be the most effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.In the United States, vaccines are thoroughly tested and continuously monitored to ensure their safety. information on the importance of immunization, please visit the Maine Immunization Program website at: www.ImmunizeME, "says the CDC on its website.
The Maine Legislature is considering a Bill 798 that would eliminate exemptions for religious and philosophical reasons, but would allow medical exemptions.
The bill would require a child to be vaccinated to go to school – from elementary to post-secondary – and would also require adults working in schools or health facilities to be vaccinated.
On March 13, hundreds of people attended a public hearing on the bill. Many of them opposed deleting the exemptions. The Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs will hold a working session on the bill on 10 April.
According to the Maine CDC on March 27, 10.9% (43) of the 393 kindergarten students in Knox County had received immunization waivers. Almost all were due to philosophical reasons. This means that children have not been vaccinated or are unaware of their vaccinations.
Seven of the 55 kindergarten students at South School in Rockland (12.7%) have benefited from exemptions and all are motivated by philosophical reasons by their parents.
Ten of 76 (13.2%) kindergarten students from Camden-Rockport Elementary School in Rockport were not vaccinated.
Four of the eleven (36.4%) kindergarten children at Prescott Memorial School in Washington were not vaccinated.
Five of 20 children from kindergarten to St. George School (25%) are not vaccinated.
Five of eight kindergarten children (62.5%) from the Ashwood Waldorf private school in Rockport have not been vaccinated.
Two of the three nursery schools at Riley School in Glen Cove (66.7%) were not vaccinated.
One of the six (16.7%) students in Kindergarten at Rockland's Pen Bay Christian School has not been vaccinated.
Two of the 22 children in Hope Kindergarten (9.1%) are not vaccinated.
One of the 26 kindergarten students (3.8%) from the Ash Point Community School in Owls Head is not vaccinated.
Two of the 33 children at Thomaston Grammar School (6.1%) are not vaccinated.
One of the 13 (7.7%) kindergarten children from Vinalhaven is not vaccinated.
One of the 19 children of Cushing Kindergarten (5.3%) was not vaccinated.
One of the 40 preschool children at the Warren Community School (2.5%) is not vaccinated.
One of the 18 preschool children of the Union Elementary (5.6%) is not vaccinated.
The 17 kindergarten children in Appleton were vaccinated.
The 14 students from Kindergarten to Friendship Village School were vaccinated.
The six kindergarten children in North Haven were vaccinated.
The six Montessori kindergarten children in Camden were vaccinated.
The Maine CDC also reports that 8.4% of Grade 7 students and 10.4% of Knox County Grade 12 students received exemptions, again for philosophical reasons.
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