Local vaccination rate improves

Oct. 30--A recent study ranked Indiana 47th among all states for the rate at which residents are vaccinated.

WalletHub analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 18 key metrics, ranging from share of vaccinated children to share of people without health insurance to presence of reported measles outbreaks.

Massachusetts, Vermont and Rhode Island placed first through third overall. Florida, Texas and Mississippi came in 49th-50th.

Indiana ranked 44th for children and teenager immunization rates and 40th for adult and elderly vaccination rates overall, according to the study.

Indiana ranked 40th for children aged 6 months to 17 years and 48th for adults for flu vaccinations. The Indiana State Department of Health reported two Hoosier deaths and 41 flu-like illnesses reported for this flu season as of Oct. 19th.

The state also ranked 33rd for the number of children 19-35 months old and living in poverty who had the combined 7-Vaccination.

The combined 7-Vaccine combats a number of illnesses including polio, diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis, whooping cough, bacterial infection and more.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 66% of children in that age range across all incomes had the combined 7-Vaccination. Indiana, Arizona, Georgia, Ohio, Minnesota, Montana, and South Carolina had similar rates and were all in the lowest group of percentages.

The combined 7-Vaccine is essentially the group of vaccines children must receive to enter public school, although waivers are permitted for some children who are medically exempt from receiving them and for some children whose religion prevents vaccinations. The school must keep the child's waiver on file.

Although the state ranks low overall, Lisa Younts RN, Boone County Health Department public health nurse, said resistance to vaccinations is waning, especially in the past year.

"We have a pretty good return rate and a lot of compliance with vaccinations, even the ones that aren't required," Younts said.

The health department participates in Vaccines for Children, a federal program that provides low-cost vaccines for underinsured and uninsured children and another program that does the same for adults.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the health department at 765-482-3942.

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