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.
-
A new study suggests that the parasite medication, Pyrvinium pamoate, could help treat a rare type of skin cancer. -
The World Health Organization says nearly 11 million people around the world were diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2023. Author John Green has written about this. -
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs on Tuesday vetoed a pair of bills focused on vaccine exemptions for students. -
Food stamp recipients will not be denied the ability to use their benefits to purchase sodas, at least not now, and not in Arizona. -
The U.S. House and Senate are expected to soon begin work on trying to find common ground on a framework for a new budget, which calls for its Energy and Commerce Committee to find ways to cut roughly $880 billion.
