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OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- Utahns have increased the rate of childhood immunizations over the past 10 years, even though the state still waives school-mandated vaccinations for medical, religious and philosophical reasons.
Utah's Department of Health Immunization program director Linda Abel says 10 years ago, Utah was ranked last in the nation for infant vaccinations.
That's according to a national survey by the Centers for Disease Control.
But Abel says the immunization rate rose to 80.4 percent by the end of 2006 -- or 25th in the nation.
Abel says the health department doesn't track the reasons parents choose to skip immunizations.
But she suspects increases may be tied to a 1996 measles outbreak, when Utah had more cases than any other state.
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Information from: The Standard-Examiner
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
