Вирмонт возглавил рейтинг США по уровню вакцинации населения

WalletHub is ranking the states and Washington, D.C., on vaccination rates as public health experts emphasize the role immunizations play in preventing disease and protecting communities. The World Health Organization estimates vaccines prevent between 3.5 million and 5 million deaths worldwide each year. The organization also says vaccines are generally safe, with serious side effects considered extremely rare. RELATED: Pig kidney functions for record 271 days inside man awaiting human transplant What they're saying: "Seeing as being anti vaccination has become trendy in some circles and misinformation is all over the internet, it’s more crucial now than ever to spread awareness of the benefits of vaccines and make sure as many people as possible receive potentially life-saving immunizations," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. "The states that vaccinate the most provide the safest environments when it comes to public health, as the likelihood that the next outbreak will begin or spread there is minimized," Lupo added. Dig deeper: Vermont Vermont ranks first in the nation for vaccination coverage. It has the highest rates of several childhood and adult vaccinations, including tetanus, flu and shingles shots. The state also has one of the highest flu vaccination rates among children. RELATED: Scientists discover new tick-borne virus after testing thousands of patients with mysterious illnesses Massachusetts Massachusetts ranks second. The state requires children to be vaccinated before kindergarten and allows minors to receive vaccines without parental consent. It also has high flu vaccination rates among children and adults. New Hampshire New Hampshire ranks third nationally. It has high HPV vaccination rates among teens, as well as strong flu and childhood vaccination coverage. The state also requires vaccinations before children can attend kindergarten. Methodology: WalletHub ranked the 50 states and Washington, D.C., based on childhood and teen immunization rates, adult and elderly vaccination rates, and disparities and other factors that influence vaccine uptake. The analysis used 16 metrics, with each scored on a 100-point scale. WalletHub then calculated a weighted average for each state and the District to determine their overall scores and rankings. The Source: The story is based on a WalletHub analysis that compared vaccination rates using 16 metrics. Additional information about the benefits and safety of vaccines came from the World Health Organization. This story was reported from Los Angeles.  Health