By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Kindergarten vaccination rates in Arizona have dropped to the lowest in at least a decade.
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A new executive order from President Donald Trump’s administration has Tucson experts worried.
The administration wants to cut the childhood vaccine schedule from 17 or 18 shots down to 11.
Vaccination rates decline
The Arizona Public Health Association reports 87% of Arizona kindergartners got the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
That is a 7% drop over the last decade and one of the lowest rates in the country.
“Our kindergartners are not protected in the community because of how low the vaccination rates are,” said Diana Rodriguez, a Tucson MinuteClinic family nurse practitioner.
“It definitely scares me just because I want to make sure my daughter is safe while she’s at school, so I’m hoping other parents do that too,” said Natalie Vazquez, a Tucson mom.
Impact on school attendance
Children can die from these diseases, and a long sickness can also impact their education.
“You leave for however long, and then you have to come back and catch up on everything you missed out on because you were sick,” said Dominick Rodriguez, a Tucson dad.
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The new executive order does not change any laws or insurance coverage. It said it seeks “maximal parental choice over childhood vaccines.” The Department of Health and Human Services lists recommendations HERE.
But experts worry it could make families hesitate to get vital care.
“Any missed school can potentially put children behind. It can be hard to catch up,” Diana Rodriguez said.
Additional health recommendations
In addition to vaccines, Diana Rodriguez recommends teaching kids to wash their hands for the full 20 seconds, as well as making sure they get good sleep and good nutrition. She said students should not share water bottles or lip balm at school because that is how germs can spread.
“Of course she’s around kids and prone to infection and all that. So we just want to make sure that we keep our daughter safe,” Vazquez said.
Three Tucson MinuteClinic locations are open on weekends so kids can get care without missing class.
Isabela Lisco is aReport for America corpsmember covering education solutions for 13 News. Her position is made possible through funding from Report for America and theArizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund.
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