MONROE - A small but significant amount of students in Green County were not immunized this year against viruses like measles, mumps and rubella, according to Green County Health Department data.
According to GCHD statistics reported to them by Green County schools, just under 6 percent of the 5,638 students enrolled in both public and private schools during the 2014-15 school year were not immunized, accounting for 333 students.
The numbers are similar to last year's, with about 6 percent of Green County families choosing not to have their children immunized in the 2013-14 school year. Of the 5,879 students enrolled in Green County in 2013-14, this accounted for about 375 waivers of the school-required vaccinations for that year. This is typical of Green County, where since 2009 no more than 420 students went unvaccinated year to year.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that is an airborne pathogen with symptoms including fever, runny nose and a blotchy rash. The Center for Disease Control reports that the MMR vaccine is 97 percent effective in preventing measles.
Lori Soderberg, the Monroe school district nurse, said for the 2014-15 school year, about 146 students have waivers for immunization at Monroe schools. Soderberg said of these 146 students, about 68 students opted out specifically to avoid the MMR immunization, but of those 68 students about half received one of the two required doses of MMR before opting out.
The CDC recommends children get two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years old.
After a measles outbreak that reportedly started at Disney Land and has caused over 100 individuals to become ill from the virus, vaccination has come to the forefront as a polarizing issue. With a couple of presidential hopefuls stumbling over how to address vaccinations, the old debate is on the rise again.
Gov. Scott Walker has come out in favor of vaccination, while other potential Republican presidential candidates such as Chris Christie and Rand Paul have said parents should have a choice in vaccinating their children but insist that vaccination against measles is a necessity.
Some argue that certain vaccinations can lead to autism, citing a 1998 study published in the British journal, "The Lancet." The study has been largely discredited by the scientific community, and no positive link has been shown between vaccination and autism.
Wisconsin is among 20 states that let parents opt out of getting school-required vaccinations by obtaining a waiver for either philosophical, health or religious reasons. Parents who choose not to have their children vaccinated submit a letter to the school with their personal objection to the vaccination.
Soderberg said schools are required to provide an annual report to the state on their immunization status. She warned that there is always a risk of a measles outbreak and that vaccination is the only proven way to mitigate contraction of these diseases.
"There's definitely a risk for a measles outbreak in any community, as we really don't know how many people in our general population have been vaccinated against the measles virus," she said. "What we do know is that people are relocating and/or traveling every day of the week."
Soderberg said anyone with questions or concerns about child immunizations should have a conversation with their doctor about the potential risks and benefits of immunizations.
"The statistics and research show that immunizations are highly effective for control of vaccine-preventable diseases and the risks of adverse reactions are low," she said.
The CDC reports that vaccines work by helping develop the body's natural immunity by imitating an infection, but the simulated infection does not cause illness. Sometimes the vaccine can cause minor symptoms, like fever, but the CDC reports these symptoms are considered normal as the body builds an immunity. The vaccine typically takes a few weeks to build up an immunity to the disease, so it is possible for a person to become infected shortly before or just after being inoculated.
GCHD Director RoAnn Warden said she insists that parents heavily consider immunization before opting out through a waiver.
"Allowing an unimmunized child into your center or school puts that child and other children at risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases," Warden said.
- The Associated Press contributed to this article
According to GCHD statistics reported to them by Green County schools, just under 6 percent of the 5,638 students enrolled in both public and private schools during the 2014-15 school year were not immunized, accounting for 333 students.
The numbers are similar to last year's, with about 6 percent of Green County families choosing not to have their children immunized in the 2013-14 school year. Of the 5,879 students enrolled in Green County in 2013-14, this accounted for about 375 waivers of the school-required vaccinations for that year. This is typical of Green County, where since 2009 no more than 420 students went unvaccinated year to year.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that is an airborne pathogen with symptoms including fever, runny nose and a blotchy rash. The Center for Disease Control reports that the MMR vaccine is 97 percent effective in preventing measles.
Lori Soderberg, the Monroe school district nurse, said for the 2014-15 school year, about 146 students have waivers for immunization at Monroe schools. Soderberg said of these 146 students, about 68 students opted out specifically to avoid the MMR immunization, but of those 68 students about half received one of the two required doses of MMR before opting out.
The CDC recommends children get two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years old.
After a measles outbreak that reportedly started at Disney Land and has caused over 100 individuals to become ill from the virus, vaccination has come to the forefront as a polarizing issue. With a couple of presidential hopefuls stumbling over how to address vaccinations, the old debate is on the rise again.
Gov. Scott Walker has come out in favor of vaccination, while other potential Republican presidential candidates such as Chris Christie and Rand Paul have said parents should have a choice in vaccinating their children but insist that vaccination against measles is a necessity.
Some argue that certain vaccinations can lead to autism, citing a 1998 study published in the British journal, "The Lancet." The study has been largely discredited by the scientific community, and no positive link has been shown between vaccination and autism.
Wisconsin is among 20 states that let parents opt out of getting school-required vaccinations by obtaining a waiver for either philosophical, health or religious reasons. Parents who choose not to have their children vaccinated submit a letter to the school with their personal objection to the vaccination.
Soderberg said schools are required to provide an annual report to the state on their immunization status. She warned that there is always a risk of a measles outbreak and that vaccination is the only proven way to mitigate contraction of these diseases.
"There's definitely a risk for a measles outbreak in any community, as we really don't know how many people in our general population have been vaccinated against the measles virus," she said. "What we do know is that people are relocating and/or traveling every day of the week."
Soderberg said anyone with questions or concerns about child immunizations should have a conversation with their doctor about the potential risks and benefits of immunizations.
"The statistics and research show that immunizations are highly effective for control of vaccine-preventable diseases and the risks of adverse reactions are low," she said.
The CDC reports that vaccines work by helping develop the body's natural immunity by imitating an infection, but the simulated infection does not cause illness. Sometimes the vaccine can cause minor symptoms, like fever, but the CDC reports these symptoms are considered normal as the body builds an immunity. The vaccine typically takes a few weeks to build up an immunity to the disease, so it is possible for a person to become infected shortly before or just after being inoculated.
GCHD Director RoAnn Warden said she insists that parents heavily consider immunization before opting out through a waiver.
"Allowing an unimmunized child into your center or school puts that child and other children at risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases," Warden said.
- The Associated Press contributed to this article