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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