Oregonians for Healthy Children

Oregon’s 2013 newly announced 6.4 percent rate of kindergartners who are exempted for religious reasons tops the 2012 rate; Coalition for Senate Bill 132 confirms need for legislation

January 13, 2013 - In 2012, Oregon schools had the highest rate of non-medical vaccine exemptions for students of kindergarten age. The calendar year 2012 also saw the highest rates for pertussis (whooping cough) cases in the United States, for the past 50 years, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Washington and Oregon also had higher incident rates than in previous years.