*ND Dept of Health Notes Declines in North Dakota Routine Immunization Rates*
Posted over 2 years ago in IMPORTANT NEWS
During the COVID-19 pandemic, significant declines in routine immunization coverage rates in North Dakota and worldwide have been seen for certain vaccines and age groups. While COVID-19 case counts are low, North Dakota health care providers are urged to implement activities to increase routine immunization rates in an effort to prevent outbreaks of other vaccine preventable diseases, including measles.
Adolescent Immunization Week is April 4th-8th and National Infant Immunization Week is April 25th–May 2nd and is a perfect opportunity to remind North Dakotans of the importance of routine, wellness vaccines.
In addition to conducting activities to increase immunization rates, healthcare providers are urged to consider testing for vaccine preventable diseases (i.e., measles, chickenpox, hepatitis A) if seeing patients with clinically compatible symptoms, especially in patients who are un- or under-vaccinated.