REGIONAL- In a move to help boost declining vaccination rates in recent years among the state’s youngest residents, the Minnesota Department of Health, or MDH, brought greater visibility to the issue this week by joining the national observance of Infant Immunization Week.
In 2019, about 69 percent of two-year-olds in Minnesota were fully up to date on their immunizations. That number dropped to 63 percent by 2023, according to data from the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection.
Health officials say that catching up on well-child visits and vaccinations can help reverse that trend—and prevent outbreaks of diseases that were once largely under control.
“Childhood immunizations are a cornerstone of public health,” said Jessica Hancock-Allen, director of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division at MDH. “They protect our youngest from devastating diseases like pertussis (whooping cough) and measles that have been on the rise across the country. Getting recommended immunizations by two years of age not only saves individual lives but also protects entire communities.”
Vaccines are one of the most effective and affordable tools available for preventing serious illness and death, health experts say, and the effort to protect children starts before they’re even born with maternal vaccinations that will pass protective antibodies to a baby.
Steps to take
MDH recommends these action steps:
• Check your child’s immunization record. Use the online Find My Immunization Record tool on the MDH website to see what vaccines your child has received and what may be due.
• Schedule a well-child visit. Contact your child’s health care provider to catch up on immunizations.
• Ask questions. Speak with your doctor about vaccine safety and timing.
• Explore free or low-cost options. If your child doesn’t have insurance, or if insurance doesn’t cover all vaccines, MDH’s online Vaccine Map can help you find clinics offering shots at low or no cost.
If you’re pregnant, talk to your provider about recommended vaccinations during pregnancy.
More information and resources are available at MDH’s Immunization: Me and My Family webpage at https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize/basics/index.html.