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TUCSON - There is an upward trend in children being exempt from vaccinations due to personal beliefs, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS).

In the last decade, the number of parents choosing not to vaccinate their children for non-medical reasons in Arizona has more than doubled.

Dr. Kacey Ernst, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Arizona College of Public Health, is working with the ADHS to identify schools in Arizona where vaccination exemptions are high.

"I would imagine that in the future we may try to conduct studies with parents in these schools and try to eventually develop educational campaigns that will assist in helping them make a more informed decision that is grounded in science," says Ernst.

Arizona is one of several states in the U.S. that allows parents to opt out of childhood immunizations based on personal beliefs. This may include religious beliefs or other beliefs such as vaccination being harmful. There are also medical exemptions for children who are unable to take vaccines due to previous adverse reactions or allergies to components of the vaccine.

"We are broadly interested in finding out more about why people are choosing not to vaccinate and to try to address those individuals that don't vaccinate due to misinformation and fear," says Ernst.

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