The Arizona Department of Health Services has helped launch a video series to encourage vaccinations. It’s part of an effort to combat the state’s lagging rates.
The video series, called "Healthy Horizons," was developed with the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Arizona Partnership for Immunization.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arizona has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country among kindergartners, with 8.5% claiming an exemption. By comparison, the national exemption rate is only 3.3%.
James Washington is the CEO for the immunization partnership.
“We need to understand that choosing to vaccinate is a personal decision. However, it can help prevent outbreaks and protect individuals as well as loved ones. So for us, a well-vaccinated community is a healthier one," he said.
Washington said parents also made inquiries.
“So we know providers are well-versed in the understanding of vaccines, but what we had heard was that more and more they were facing questions in their practice from parents," he said
According to the department, a 95% to 100% rate for childhood vaccines is needed to fully protect a community.
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State health officials say they’ve confirmed nearly a thousand COVID-19 cases in the last week. At the same time, lots of Arizonans are starting to think about getting flu and COVID-19 shots for the year.
