States where a higher percentage of parents exercised their right to a nonmedical vaccine exemption showed lower coverage rates of the MMR vaccine in particular, the study finds. (The MMR vaccine, which is given to children in two doses at 12 to 15 months old and 4 to 6 years old, protects against the measles, mumps and rubella.)
"We had a terrible measles outbreak in Minnesota last year," Hotez noted, adding that vaccination coverage in 90% to 95% of all children is needed to protect against highly infectious diseases.
It is worse in Europe, apparently. How sophisticated.
I once read that you could use the location of Whole Food Markets as a good proxy for where immunizations lag in America.
But by all means, wage war hammer and tong against plastic straws rather than get your children immunized.
Tip to Instapundit.
