South Dakota Ranks High for Kindergarten Shots

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota parents are apparently doing a good job of getting kindergartners in for their shots.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the state has some of the highest immunization rates in the nation for kindergarten students.

The CDC surveyed records for more than 12,000 students from the previous school year. It found that nearly 98 percent of students that age were immunized for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Ninety-six percent had their shots for chickenpox.

Less than 1 percent had a medical exemption for vaccination and another 1.5 percent claimed a religious exemption.

South Dakota epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger says the high rates help prevent the spread of disease and protect people with medical conditions who can't get vaccinated.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.