Worries grow as immunizations for kids lagging
Doctors have concerns over consequences
Fewer children are getting their immunizations as COVID-19 fears keep parents away from doctors’ offices, and experts worry that could lead to infectious disease outbreaks, particularly measles.
“If you’re not bringing your child in for immunizations because you’re worried about being exposed to COVID, what you’re really doing is setting yourself up for multiple problems,” said Dr. Clifford Selsky of Family First Pediatrics in Winter Springs.
Visits to pediatricians’ offices nationwide dropped by as much as 80% in March and April when a national emergency was issued because of the pandemic. Many parents have been hesitant to go to doctors’ offices for fear of catching COVID-19. Others might have lost their health insurance.
The consequences became apparent in a recent national analysis of immunizations, which showed a significant drop
Dr. Al Torres, Medical Director of the Pediatric Programs at the Partnerships for Nemours, sees a patient at Shepherd’s Hope.
in non-influenza childhood immunizations since mid-March. The drop was more pronounced in kids 2 years old and younger.
The rate of immunizations in Florida have dropped, too, especially in April, after the state issued declared a state of emergency and stay-at-home orders.
The rate of measles, mumps, rubella vaccination — better known as MMR or the measles vaccine — dropped by nearly half in April this year, compared with
last year, according to data provided to the Orlando Sentinel by the Florida Department of Health. The numbers had improved by June to a 14% drop since last year.
The level of TDAP vaccines, which prevents pertussis or whooping cough, dropped by 70% in April, and has since improved to a 15% drop since last June.
“The way I understand it, about 69.7% of the children who are entering kindergarten this year are compliant and ready to go, and that includes a second measles, mumps and rubella. And that’s much lower than we usually see,” said Dr. Paul Robinson, president of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Doctors are most worried about the drop in measles vaccinations, followed by TDAP. Both diseases can kill children. But of the two, measles is most contagious — about 10 times more transmissible than COVID-19 — and can easily spread if the immunization rates drop below 90%.
“The only thing worse than a COVID epidemic is going to be a measles epidemic,” said Dr. Kenneth Alexander, chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando.
Alexander said that once international travel resumes, new cases of measles are more likely to be imported to Central Florida.
“Not only is that a public health disaster, but think of yourself as a British tourist and all of a sudden you hear that there’s a measles outbreak in Central Florida. You’re going to stay home and so is your money. So, this is not only a public health disaster in the making. But it could be an economic disaster in the making,” said Alexander.
In order to encourage parents to go back for the well-child visits, the Florida Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics has launched a social media campaign.
The organization along with the Florida Academy of Family Physicians, is planning on releasing a public service announcement to encourage parents to vaccinate their kids.
Pediatricians continue to reassure worried parents that it is safe to visit the doctor’s office. Everyone wears a mask and gown and surfaces are routinely sanitized. Many offices are now scheduling sick kids at different times than kids who come in for their well-visits. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also published new recommendations to guide pediatricians in managing visits safely and effectively.
To encourage parents, the Department of Health in Orange County is offering free immunizations from July 10 to Aug. 8. Shepherd’s Hope free clinic has also partnered for the seventh year with Nemours Children Health System to provide free back-to-school physicals for uninsured and underinsured children from July 27 to Aug. 6.
Families who don’t have insurance can also benefit from the national Vaccine for Children Program, which provides federally purchased vaccines to about 50% of U.S. children and is available at community health centers, free clinics and many pediatricians’ offices.
“My message to parents is that this is a time, probably even more important than the average year, to immunize our children,” Alexander said. “And this is going to be an important year to give everybody a flu vaccine, because COVID is going to be with us over the winter and clinically, the two are indistinguishable.”
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• Find a provider at flshotsusers.com/search/ provider
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• The Florida Department of Health in Orange County is holding free immunization events for children from 4 to 18 years old, July 20 to Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Not open on Sundays. Bring student’s current shot record, birth certificate, passport, or other government issued ID. No college vaccines. No religious exemptions. Appointments only. Call 407-723-5004, press 2, to make an appointment.
• Four Shepherd’s Hope Health Centers are offering free vaccination for uninsured and underinsured children from July 27 to Aug. 6 at the following dates and locations: family pediatrician local health