24-04-2025
Springfield-Greene County Health Department stressing importance of vaccines
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Springfield-Greene County Health Department (SGCHD) is reminding parents about the importance of vaccinations in infants and children.
April 21-28 is National Infant Immunization Week, and the Health Department says vaccines are one of the most effective tools for protecting infants and children against diseases that can be prevented by vaccines, such as measles.
There has been a recent spike in measles cases across the country, including one confirmed case in Missouri. Dr. Nancy Yoon, Chief Medical Officer at SGCHD, says low vaccination rates are contributing to the increase in cases.
'We want there to be 95% of the population to be vaccinated in order to prevent some of these diseases,' Dr. Yoon said. 'And in Greene County, we're lower than that, we're about 90% vaccination for the MMR vaccine. And this is a big reason why we're seeing the measles cases increase here as well as other states.'
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Dr. Yoon says it is understandable for people to have concerns about possible side effects from vaccines or whether the vaccines are necessary.
'With many decades of use and rigorous scientific studies, there has been evidence that these vaccines are safe.' Dr. Yoon said. 'And it's always important to weigh the risks and the benefits. So there may be a small amount of risk for side effects or adverse effects from the vaccines, but these are far more rare and less likely to occur than possible complications that can come from having some of these diseases.'
The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children stay on track and up to date with their vaccine series. Different vaccines are recommended for children at different ages, but Dr. Yoon says it is never too late for a child to receive a vaccine.
If you have any questions or concerns about vaccines and what is best for you and your children, Dr. Yoon says you should talk with your healthcare provider.
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