title: Assessment of vaccine exemptions among Wyoming school children, 2009 and 2011.
abstract: During 2010-2011, varicella vaccination was an added requirement for school entrance in Wyoming. Vaccination exemption rates were compared during the 2009-2010 and 2011-2012 school years, and impacts of implementing a new childhood vaccine requirement were evaluated. All public schools, grades K-12, were required to report vaccination status of enrolled children for the 2009-2010 and 2011-2012 school years to the Wyoming Department of Health. Exemption data were analyzed by exemption category, vaccine, county, grade, and rurality. The proportion of children exempt for ≥ 1 vaccine increased from 1.2% (1,035/87,398) during the 2009-2010 school year to 1.9% (1,678/89,476) during 2011-2012. In 2011, exemptions were lowest (1.5%) in urban areas and highest (2.6%) in the most rural areas, and varicella vaccine exemptions represented 67.1% (294/438) of single vaccination exemptions. Implementation of a new vaccination requirement for school admission led to an increased exemption rate across Wyoming.
authors.affiliation: Wyoming State Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA These authors contributed equally to the study. hgp3@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Kerry R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Pride
authors.affiliation: Wyoming State Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA These authors contributed equally to the study.
authors.forename: Aimee L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Geissler
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research and Evaluation Branch, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kolasa
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Sciences Scientific Education and Professional Development Program Office in the Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Byron
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Wyoming State Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Clay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Houten
authors.affiliation: Wyoming State Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Reginald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McClinton
authors.affiliation: Wyoming State Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.affiliation: Wyoming State Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014959:Wyoming
keywords: Wyoming; immunization; schools; vaccines