While there has been a lot of discussion around the COVID-19 vaccine in recent months, health professionals are working to bring attention to another important issue: Routine vaccinations for kids.
“This week, parents everywhere areconcerned about sending their childrenback to in-person school,” Yavapai County Community Health Services wrote in a Facebook post. “Over the past year, many children fell behind on receiving routine childhood vaccinations and routine wellness exams. As children continue to return to the new ‘normal,’ routine childhood vaccinations are essential to keeping them and their communities protected and healthy.”
An estimated 23 million children worldwide missed routine immunizations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is 3.7 million more than in 2019, according to the World Health Organization.
In the United States, the number of kids getting routine vaccines dropped by 14% in 2020-2021 compared to 2019, and the measles vaccine alone is down by over 20%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Verde Valley is no exception, Sally Slater, section manager of immunizations for YCCHS, said.
“We saw a very significant drop in the number of children scheduled for vaccine appointments at YCCHS in 2020,” she said. “The majority of children and adolescents we are seeing in our clinics now are behind on vaccines, and we are working diligently to catch them up.”
While Slater said YCCHS has not reported any new outbreaks or increases in the number of vaccine-preventable diseases other than COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, it’s still important to stay up-to-date on immunizations to prevent catching unnecessary illnesses and spreading them to other vulnerable populations such as those who are immunocompromised or who are otherwise unable to receive vaccines.
Susan Collier, the district nurse for the Camp Verde School District, echoed Slater’s thoughts and added that while some parents may be hesitant to have their children immunized in the middle of a pandemic, it is safe to do so and it’s important to do so to help achieve “herd immunity.”
“Routine vaccinations help to provide what we call a herd immunity. When a large population has already been infected or is vaccinated, then it can help to protect those few that are not current or are exempt from their routine vaccinations. This herd immunity can help protect others in the school setting,” she said.
Not only do routine vaccinations protect students and teachers in schools, but they can also help kids succeed in school, Robert Clark, district nurse for the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District, said.
“Healthy students miss less school and are better prepared to learn, play and enjoy their educational experience,” he said.
YCCHS is offering appointments for back-to-school vaccinations every Tuesday in August, Aug. 17, 24 and 31, at its Cottonwood location. Parents interested in making an appointment for routine vaccinations can call 771-3122.
All patients will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms prior to entering the building and masks are required. Appointments for routine immunizations can also be made at Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Spectrum Healthcare, Yavapai Community Health Services, the Community Health Center of Yavapai, or through a local pediatrician or family practitioner.
A list of vaccines that are required for children to attend school can be found through the Arizona Department of Health website, and a recommended immunization schedule can be found on the CDC’s website.
