Releasing school-by-school vaccination figures has obstacles

Soon, data should be available regarding the number of unvaccinated students at individual schools.

News 12 Staff

Aug 29, 2019, 6:40 PM

Updated 1,701 days ago

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Soon, data should be available regarding the number of unvaccinated students at individual schools.
Initially the state was not going to release school-by-school figures. But on Wednesday, Gov. Ned Lamont overruled his own public health commissioner and ordered the numbers to come out.
"I think parents have a right to know, and I think it's about transparency,” said the governor.
Gov. Lamont says the school-level vaccination rates should be ready in about a week. But whether they're released remains in question.
According to a state report, 4.1% of students were unvaccinated last school year. The number of kids claiming a religious exemption jumped by 25% - the highest rate ever.

On Thursday morning, a couple from Bristol filed for an emergency injunction to prevent that from happening, citing privacy concerns.
"Despite the fact these children do not carry diseases, they, and their parents, are treated like pariahs in their own community," the couple wrote.
Gov. Lamont insisted that “there's no individual names” being released.
Sacred Heart vaccine expert Dr. Anna Greer says parents shouldn't focus too much on the numbers.
"I would worry less about the number and more about, is your child up to date on their vaccinations?" she says.
Gov. Lamont says the school-by-school numbers should be out within a week.
 
 


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