Kent Co. health officials worry about drop in immunization rates

by:Lynsey Mukomel

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Officials with The Kent County Health Department is using National Immunization Awareness Month to educate families on the importance of vaccines as immunization rates drop across the county and state. 

Kent County Health Department Immunization Supervisor Mary Wisinski told News 8 Thursday, “We’re usually very busy at this time of the year with back-to-school parents getting their kids caught up, school-required immunizations and somehow the empty appointments are remaining.”

The decrease is attributed to multiple factors: the coronavirus shutdowns, unknowns related to the pandemic and the move to remote learning for school-age kids. 

In Kent County, immunization rates decreased 4% from January to June for toddlers 19 to 35 months old. That’s 2,990 children. 

Read the full story: WOODTV.COM


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