This week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are observing National Infant Immunization Week and reminding parents why it’s important to keep kids up to date on their vaccines.Vermont’s Department of Health is echoing that advice. Looking back on the onset of COVID-19, health departments and child care facilities are still playing catch-up. “It’s definitely been a game of Jenga for sure for the last several months, and we’re really hoping we’re sort of migrating out of that and starting to see students hardening up again around illness,” said Sara LeBlanc, the owner of Next Generation Childcare. Record highs of respiratory syncytial virus cases and other illnesses like the flu circulated through homes and schools and prompted the Department of Health to keep a watchful eye on vaccine trends following the end of the COVID-19 lockdown. “Fortunately, it’s been enough time where we’ve been able to really process what that data looks like and see where we’re behind and where we did alright and in Vermont, by and large, we did great,” said Monica Ogelbey, Immunizations Program Manager at the Vermont Department of Health.In a recent report, the Department of Health compared immunization rates in children under 2 between 2020 and 2021.The report found the number of vaccinations dropped by 60 kids for illnesses like chicken pox, measles, and rubella.Now the Department of Health is hoping to reach wider audiences through social media and remind parents to keep track of their child’s vaccines, with a goal of having children fully equipped to handle the cold and flu season next winter. “We want to keep these types of things front of mind for parents because parenting is hard, it’s busy, there’s a lot to keep track of, and so part of our role at the Health Department is to help prompt parents on things that are really important,” said Ogelbey. If you are interested to find out which vaccines your child may be missing, the state has an immunization registry with records of the vaccines they’ve already gotten.
This week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are observing National Infant Immunization Week and reminding parents why it’s important to keep kids up to date on their vaccines.
Vermont’s Department of Health is echoing that advice.
Advertisement
Looking back on the onset of COVID-19, health departments and child care facilities are still playing catch-up.
“It’s definitely been a game of Jenga for sure for the last several months, and we’re really hoping we’re sort of migrating out of that and starting to see students hardening up again around illness,” said Sara LeBlanc, the owner of Next Generation Childcare.
Record highs of respiratory syncytial virus cases and other illnesses like the flu circulated through homes and schools and prompted the Department of Health to keep a watchful eye on vaccine trends following the end of the COVID-19 lockdown.
“Fortunately, it’s been enough time where we’ve been able to really process what that data looks like and see where we’re behind and where we did alright and in Vermont, by and large, we did great,” said Monica Ogelbey, Immunizations Program Manager at the Vermont Department of Health.
In a recent report, the Department of Health compared immunization rates in children under 2 between 2020 and 2021.
The report found the number of vaccinations dropped by 60 kids for illnesses like chicken pox, measles, and rubella.
Now the Department of Health is hoping to reach wider audiences through social media and remind parents to keep track of their child’s vaccines, with a goal of having children fully equipped to handle the cold and flu season next winter.
“We want to keep these types of things front of mind for parents because parenting is hard, it’s busy, there’s a lot to keep track of, and so part of our role at the Health Department is to help prompt parents on things that are really important,” said Ogelbey.
If you are interested to find out which vaccines your child may be missing, the state has an immunization registry with records of the vaccines they’ve already gotten.
