Massachusetts Ranks High In Vaccination Rates: Study

MASSACHUSETTS — Massachusetts is ranked second in the country in vaccination rates, according to personal finance website WalletHub.

Massachusetts had a total score of 79.15. It was beaten out only by Rhode Island, which scored 81.81.

The study ranks states in terms of vaccination rates for children and teenagers as well as for adults and the elderly.

Massachusetts is one of only 18 states that allow minors to receive vaccinations without parental consent, allowing young people with anti-vaccine parents to choose to become protected anyway, according to WalletHub. Massachusetts requires children to be vaccinated against common diseases before attending kindergarten, too.

Massachusetts has high levels of vaccination for all major diseases, including seasonal coverage. The Bay State boasts the highest share of adults with flu vaccinations, at over 62%, and the third-highest rate for children, at over 75%.

Overall, New England has some of the highest vaccination rates in the country. Here's the full top 10:

1. Rhode Island
2. Massachusetts
3. Maine
4. Washington
5. Maryland
6. Vermont
7. Minnesota
8. New Hampshire
9. District of Columbia
10. Connecticut

The study notes that vaccines are "some of the most valuable contributions to modern medicine," noting that they have drastically reduced the prevalence of diseases like polio, tetanus, measles, and chickenpox.

Check out the full study at WalletHub.