Illinois parents are continuing to get their kids vaccinated at high rates despite ongoing controversy nationally about vaccines, according to data released by the state health department Monday. [Chicago Tribune]

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More than 95% of children statewide had received 10 school-required vaccines as of October, including those against chickenpox, whooping cough, hepatitis B, measles and polio, among others. The only required vaccine that fewer than 95% of Illinois kids received was the meningococcal vaccine, with 94.4% of Illinois children vaccinated.

Though pockets of lower vaccination rates remain in parts of Illinois – including in Chicago for several vaccines – the statewide numbers were an improvement from the previous school year. Across Illinois, rates for all but one of the vaccines rose slightly.

The state’s goal is for 95% of kids to be vaccinated – a level that’s considered high enough to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and to protect those who cannot be vaccinated.

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