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PHOENIX – Measles outbreak continues to worsen with the Centers for Disease Control
now reports more than 700 cases in the United States.
Until now, there has been only one case in Arizona,
reported last month in Pima County
but health officials say it's only a matter of time before we have another case and an epidemic is also possible.
"Given our low immunization coverage and all measles-related activities in the country, we fear another case of measles," said Jessica Rigler, Arizona's Department of Health Services.
The health indicators examined by health officials are "community immunity", which means that we rely on each other to stop the disease if it presented itself here. But at present, the number of community immunities is very low, especially since kindergarten children, who must be vaccinated against measles when they go to school, have a number of vaccinations lower than in previous years.
"We are below the 95% threshold we would like to see in order to protect a community against a measles outbreak," said Rigler. "In Maricopa County this school year, it appears that only about 40% of kindergarten classrooms have enough measles-vaccinated students in this classroom to prevent an outbreak in this class. "
ABC15 has obtained measles immunization data for Maricopa County for the 2018-2019 school year, which show compliance rates of MMR immunizations among kindergarten children in county schools.
Click on each school below to view MMR vaccination rates in Maricopa County Schools for the 2018-2019 school year.
In total, six schools have an RRO compliance rate below 80%, and a small county school only has 38% of kindergarten children to be vaccinated. Take a look to see each of the schools listed below.
| NAME OF SCHOOL | CITY | REGISTERED | % IMMUNE MMR | % EXEMPT MMR | % MMR CONFORMITY |
| ACADEMY OF ETHOS | GLENDALE | 48 | 75% | 2% | 77% |
| PEORIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PEORIA | 71 | 75% | 3% | 77% |
| EAGLE COLLEGE PREP HARMONY | PHOENIX | 27 | 70% | 0% | 74% |
| PAIN THE DESERT MONTESSORI | BUCKEYE | 65 | 46% | 20% | 66% |
| ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PIMA | SCOTTSDALE | 70 | 61% | 0% | 61% |
| CATHOLIC QUEEN PEACE SCHOOL | MESA | 29 | 38% | 0% | 38% |
The MMR vaccine, administered in multiple doses, is mandatory for children to prevent the spread of measles, mumps and rubella. According to the CDC, it is generally recommended to administer the first dose to children aged 12 to 15 months.
These compliance rates take into account children exempted from the need for the MMR vaccine, and some county schools have a high percentage of exempt students.
RELATED:
Arizona House Bills Could Change Parents' Rights, Options With Vaccine Exemptions
The list below shows schools in Maricopa County that have exemption rates of 30% or more for the 2018-2019 school year.
| NAME OF SCHOOL | CITY | REGISTERED | % IMMUNE MMR | % EXEMPT MMR | % MMR CONFORMITY |
| CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF SCOTTSDALE | PHOENIX | 53 | 70% | 30% | 100% |
| CHARTER SCHOOL OF THE CENTER OF EDUCATION MONTESSORI-85204 | MESA | 40 | 68% | 33% | 100% |
| CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF THE NORTHERN VALLEY | ANTHEM | 21 | 57% | 38% | 100% |
| EAGLERIDGE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM | MESA | 77 | 48% | 52% | 100% |
| MARIGOLD DESERT SCHOOL | PHOENIX | 36 | 42% | 58% | 100% |
These data do not include the exact number of unvaccinated students against the MMR vaccine, but a data analysis for each state school indicates that about 78,000 kindergarten students, about 1 350 (about 1.7%) immunized.
Schools with fewer than 20 students have been excluded from this list to protect the identity of the students involved.
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