SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, April 18, 2005

CONTACT: Michelle Hudecek, RN (605) 773-3737

South Dakota’s child immunization tops national rate

PIERRE, S.D. – A recent national survey found that 85.6 percent of South Dakota’s 19-35 month old children were age-appropriately immunized for 4 doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis,  3 doses of polio, and 1 dose of measles/mumps/rubella. This exceeds the national average of 83.1 percent. The National Immunization Survey was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 “South Dakota’s immunization continues to climb, which is good news for our children,” said Michelle Hudecek, Immunization Program Coordinator for the Department of Health. “With the continued efforts of our public and private vaccine providers, community coalitions, and parents, we’re confident we can reach the Healthy People 2010 objective of a 90 percent immunization rate.”

The department released its results from the National Immunization Survey (NIS) as part of National Infant Immunization Week activities, April 24-30. The week is observed each year to promote the benefits of immunizations and to focus on the importance of immunizing infants against the 12 vaccine-preventable diseases by age two. According to the NIS, nearly 1 million children in the United States are not adequately immunized, which means they are not protected from vaccine preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough.

Love them, protect them, immunize them is the theme for this year’s National Infant Immunization Week. More information about the week can be found at www.cdc.gov/nip/events/niiw/2005/05default.htm.

Hudecek said the department’s Immunization Program works to protect all South Dakotans against vaccine preventable disease by increasing immunization coverage levels. The program provides vaccine, educational materials and training to immunization providers throughout the state. It also promotes and supports the South Dakota Immunization Information System (SDIIS), an electronic system that allows healthcare providers to share immunization records. There are 248 public and private providers in 66 counties currently using on SDIIS.  

To find out which immunizations their children need and the recommended schedule for receiving them, parents should contact their immunization provider, call the South Dakota Immunization Program at 1-800-592-1861, or visit the web at www.state.sd.us/doh/Immunize/.