© 2024 KMUW
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New Report Shows Drop In Kansas Immunization Rate

A new report on the well-being of Kansas children shows a steep drop in the number of kids who are fully immunized by the age of two, as recommended.

The Kansas KIDS COUNT report by the advocacy group Kansas Action for Children shows the on-time immunization rate for 2013 falling below the 2009 rate. This, after four years of steady increases. It’s apparently part of a national trend of parents avoiding—or at least delaying—vaccinations for their kids. Spokeswoman Christie Appelhanz says it not only puts their own kids at risk of dangerous diseases, but also endangers others who can’t be vaccinated because they’re too young, or have compromised immune systems…

“I personally had two uncles whom I never got to meet, because they died of whooping cough,” Appelhanz says.

Although vaccines for pertussis, or whooping cough, were available, Appelhanz says her uncles were infants, and too young to receive them. The Kansas KIDS COUNT report also shows an increase over the last five years in the percentage of kids living in poverty. Positive trends highlighted in the report include a drop in youth tobacco use and binge drinking.