GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — Global routine immunization rates waned during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to new data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), those rates have not returned to pre-pandemic levels across the globe.
In Kent County, health leaders see a similar trend. Amy Shears, the immunization supervisor at the Kent County Health Department (KCHD), said routine series of vaccinations for children were about 69% to 70% prior to the pandemic.
The last three years, they are looking at about 63% to 64% coverage rates for the same series.
"It does raise some concern," said Shears. "That could put some pretty vulnerable populations at risk for some different vaccine preventable diseases, whether that's meningitis, measles, mumps. It's nerve wracking, in a sense."
One possible reason for the progression stall is wavering hesitancy among parents and caregivers about vaccinations since the pandemic.
"There tends to be some distrust," said Shears.
However, health leaders urge making sure children are up to date on their vaccinations prior to heading back to school this fall.
"As you're starting to get backpacks and pencils, crayons and such for your kiddos to go back to school, it really is time to make that phone call to your primary care provider or to the health department and say, 'Hey, is my kid up to date? Are we good to go?'" said Shears. "Because we get all those little ones in those congregate settings and viruses and such can really spread quite quickly."
You can find a list of the immunization schedule by age on this website.
Call your child's pediatrician or other primary care doctor to get them vaccinated. The KCHD also hosts clinics daily where parents or caregivers can vaccinate their children. Look for a list on this website.