HENDRICKS COUNTY – Hendricks County health officials are urging parents to ensure that their children are up-to-date on receiving recommended vaccinations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 79 cases of Measles, a preventable disease, in January 2019 alone. These cases occurred in 10 different states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. The most widely publicized of these cases have occurred in Washington, largely due to pockets of unvaccinated children. In 2018, there were 372 total cases of Measles in the United States.
There have been no confirmed cases of Measles in Hendricks County so far in 2019.
“Immunizations (vaccines) are an important way to protect yourself and your children from life-threatening diseases,” says Nicole Oppy, Assistant Director of Public Health Nursing for HCHD. “Vaccines are among the safest and most effective preventive measures, and have nearly eliminated certain diseases from the United States over the past several decades.”
One such vaccine commonly referred to as “MMR” prevents Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, each of which are full-body viral infections that can be life-threatening for young children. Most medical professionals recommend infants receive the MMR vaccine between the ages of 12 months and 15 months.
“In fact, there is an entire recommended schedule of vaccinations for infants to receive from birth to 18 months of age,” states Oppy. “These include Hep B, DTaP, Polio, Hib, PCV, RV, MMR, VZV, and Hep A – all of which are greater than 90% effective at preventing diseases.”
Parents have a responsibility to protect their children, and vaccinations are one of the easiest ways to do this. Some parents may have apprehension about vaccinating their children due to misinformation. If you have questions about vaccinations, or in order to schedule an immunization appointment for your child, please call your primary healthcare provider, or call the Hendricks County Health Department – Public Health Nursing division at 317-745-9222.
