Vaccine waiver rates for school-age children have increased slightly in Michigan.
Data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services shows the vaccine waiver rate climbed from 3.2 percent in 2016 to 3.6 percent in 2017, and the daycare waiver rate was 2.5 percent in 2017.
Michigan allows parents to waive or delay vaccines for their children due to medical reasons, religious reasons and philosophical reasons. Ottawa County’s waiver rate was between 4.2 for kindergarten and 3.1 for seventh grade, an overall average of 3.9. The daycare waive rate was 2.7. Allegan County’s was 3.3 percent for kindergarten and 2.9 percent for seventh grade, an overall average of 3.4. The daycare waiver rate was 1.7.
Here’s what the waiver status of local kindergarteners and seventh-graders look like this year:
- Black River Public School:Three kindergarten waivers (4.5 percent of students) on philosophical grounds. Five waivers for seventh-graders (6.3 percent of students), one for religious reasons and four for philosophical reasons.
- Calvary Schools of Holland: Four waivers for kindergarteners (13.3 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. One waivers for seventh grade (11.1 percent of students) for philosophical reasons.
- Corpus Christi Catholic School: Zero kindergarten waivers. One waiver for seventh grade (5 percent of students) for philosophical reasons.
- Eagle Crest Charter Academy: Two waivers for kindergarteners (2 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Three waivers in seventh grade (4.7 percent of students) for philosophical reasons.
- Fennville Public Schools: Fennville Elementary: Two waivers (1.6 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Fennvillle Middle School: Two waivers (2.1 percent of students) for philosophical reasons.
- Hamilton Community Schools: Benthiem Elementary: Zero waivers.Blue Star Elementary: One waiver (2.1 percent of students) for medical reasons. Hamilton Elementary: Three waivers (3.4 percent of students), one for medical reasons and two for philosophical reasons. Sandyview Elemetary: One waiver (4 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Hamilton Middle School: Four waivers (1.8 percent of students), one medical reason and three for philosophical reasons. Hamilton Virtual School: 11 waivers for kindergarteners (28.9 percent of students): One for medical reasons, four for religious reasons and six for philosophical reason. Nine waiver for seventh-graders (25 percent of students): one for religious reasons and eight for philosophical reasons.
- Holland Christian Schools: Pine Ridge Elementary: Zero waivers. Rose Park Elementary: Zero waivers. South Side Elementary: Four waivers (6 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Holland Christian Middle School: Three waivers (6.1 percent of students) for philosophical reasons.
- Holland Public Schools: Holland Heights: One waiver (2.6 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Jefferson: Four waivers (6.5 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Holland Language Academy: Three waivers (3.6 percent of students): one for religious reasons and two for philosophical reasons. Holland West: One waiver (2.6 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Holland Middle School: Two waivers (2.9 percent of students) for philosophical reasons.
- Icademy/Innocademy: iCademy Global: Three kindergarten waivers (60 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Five waivers for seventh-graders (27.8 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Innocademy: Nine kindergarten waivers (17 percent of students): One for religious reasons and eighth for philosophical reasons. Four seventh grade waivers (20 percent of students) for philosophical reasons.
- Saugatuck Public Schools: Douglas Elementary: Six waivers (7.3 percent of students), three for religious reasons and three for philosophical reasons. Saugatuck Middle/High School: Four waivers (7.5 percent of students), one for religious reasons and three for philosophical reasons.
- South Olive Christian: No waivers.
- Vanderbilt Charter Academy: Two kindergarten waivers (2.6 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. No seventh grade waivers.
- West Ottawa Public Schools: Great Lakes Elementary: No waivers. Lakeshore Elementary: Four waivers (5.8 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Lakewood Elementary: Two waivers (4.7 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. North Holland Elementary: Two waivers (5.6 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Pine Creek Elementary: Three waivers (3.2 percent of students): one for religious reasons and two for philosophical reasons. Sheldon Woods Elementary: One waiver (4.2 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Waukazoo Elementary: Eight waivers (7.2 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Woodside Elementary: No waivers. Macatawa Bay Middle School: Three waivers (1.5 percent of students): two for religious reasons and one for philosophical reasons. Harbor Lights Middle School: Four waivers (1.3 percent of students) for philosophical reasons.
- Zeeland Christian School: Four kindergarten waivers (4.9 percent of students) for philosophical reasons, Four seventh grade waivers (4.7 percent of students) for philosophical reasons.
- Zeeland Public Schools: Adams Elementary: Two waivers (2.9 percent of students): One of religious reasons and one for philosophical reasons. Lincoln Elementary: No waives. Quincy Elementary: No waivers. Roosevelt Elementary: No waivers. Woodbridge Elementary: Four waivers (3.6 percent of students): One for religious reasons and three for philosophical reasons. ZQuest: No waivers for kindergarteners, one waiver for seventh grade (5.9 percent of students) for philosophical reasons. Cityside Middle School: Four waivers (1.7 percent of students): one for religious reasons and three for philosophical reasons. Creekside Middle School: Four waivers (1.9 percent of students) for philosophical reasons.