KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2024 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Arizona Gov. Ducey Favors Education Over Removing Vaccine Exemptions

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday told business journalists in a meeting he still favors educating parents about vaccines.

But asking legislators to eliminate personal exemptions is something Ducey says he does not support.

"Ultimately decisions are going to be left to parents. But there's things we can do in terms of public policy to incent that. We've been pretty good at that in Arizona in the past. And I hope to continue to model that."

Late last week, the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal said Maricopa County is one of 25 in the entire country where there is the greatest chance of a measles outbreak.

And, the state’s health director, Dr. Cara Christ, says the current rate of immunization of kindergartners statewide is 93 percent — two points below the level necessary to create “herd immunity” to stop an epidemic should there be an outbreak of measles in the community.

Tags
Tom Maxedon was the host of KJZZ’s Weekend Edition from 2017 to 2024.