COLUMBUS, Ohio -Ohio law requires students to be protected against 10 serious diseases before entering school, but v accination rates among kindergartners have decreased by 4.5%.

State law requires children enrolling in school to be immunized against the following diseases:

-Diphtheria

-Hepatitis B

-Measles

-Meningococcal disease

-Mumps

-Pertussis (whooping cough)

-Polio

-Rubella

-Tetanus

-Varicella (chickenpox)

Despite these long-standing requirements intended to keep classrooms safe, state health officials warn that fewer kindergartners arrive fully vaccinated than in years’ past.

Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said this week that the percentage of kindergarteners meeting all vaccine requirements has fallen 4.5% over the last five years.

In the 2

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