More SD Parents Opting Not to Vaccinate Kids

4.5 of San Diego kindergarteners are not fully vaccinated, according to HHSA

More San Diego parents are making the choice not to vaccinate their children, according to the County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA.)

According to HHSA, 4.5 percent of kindergarteners are missing one or more of the recommended vaccines. That’s up from 3 percent in 2010.

Parents signed “personal belief waivers” to exempt their kids from the immunizations.

There are more than 43,000 kindergarteners in the county, meaning about 1,900 aren’t fully vaccinated, according to HHSA.

"A higher number of unvaccinated infants means more children are susceptible to disease," said Wilma Wooten, County Public Health Officer. "Vaccines are safe and effective and the best way parents can protect their children against disease."

However, many parents are still suspicious of vaccines and worried about the side effects.

So far this year, four people in San Diego County have contracted measles, a disease once thought to be eradicated in the U.S.

Last year, there were 175 measles cases in the U.S. Some blame the growing number of unvaccinated children.

April 26 through May 3 is National Infant Immunization Week.

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