It’s pretty obvious this piece is an exercise in propaganda. As you note, the most relevant data to the story is not only not in the lead paragraph, it is not even mentioned in the article at all.
We have no way to draw any firm conclusions, yet the article all but demands that we draw one. Propaganda - fake news.
Yep, they might as well be real and title it, Southern, Christian, Vaccine Deniers use their Children to Deliver Death (and possibly shingles in old age)
What a load of turkey crap.