Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau is shedding light on the different reasons parents are hesitant to get their children vaccinated and how those reasons vary across different states.
Parents were asked about children age 5 to 17 for the survey.
According to an analysis from Quote Wizard, the number one reason why parents in Washington are hesitant to vaccinate their children is because they are concerned about the side effects. Fifty-nine percent of respondents in Washington cited this reason.
Pennsylvania had the highest percentage of participants select this rationale, with 79 percent of participants pointing to concern over side effects.
Nationally, it was also the most popularly cited reason, with 63 percent of respondents across the nation saying they were concerned about the side effects.
Forty-two percent of respondents in Washington said that they did not trust the vaccine. Only five other states recorded a higher percentage of respondents selecting that reason. The state with the highest percentage of participants saying they did not trust the vaccine was Hawaii, with 57 percent.
Thirty percent of respondents in Washington said they did not believe their children needed the vaccine. Thirty-one percent said they are waiting to see if the vaccine is safe.
Washington had the same percentage of participants respond by saying they simply do not get their children vaccinated with 4 percent.
Oregon had the highest percentage of respondents say that they do not vaccinate their children with 15 percent, followed by Montana at 14 percent.
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