News

You may have heard that two cases of measles were diagnosed in children in Minnesota this month. The children, siblings who visited a country where measles is common, had not been vaccinated.

The cases are alarming for many reasons, including the fact that measles can be deadly. Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but it is still common in other parts of the world and easily spread through travel, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While measles may be in the spotlight right now, there are also many other vaccinations children and adults need to live a healthy, long life. If you want to be sure your family is receiving the correct vaccinations, tune in to “Why Vaccinate?’’ a live webinar from RiverView Health and Polk County Public Health (PCPH) on Tuesday, June 28.

RiverView Family Nurse Practitioner Natalie Royal and PCPH Registered Nurse/Public Health Nurse Holly Blilie will share specific information on a variety of vaccinations, including measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), Human Papilloma Virus, Meningococcal, Pneumococcal, and Shingles.

Royal and Blilie will also share information on:

• The growing childhood immunization gap
• COVID’s impact on vaccinations
• Measles
• Vaccinations for all ages

According to the CDC, the U.S. is currently experiencing the largest increase in unvaccinated children in 20 years. The lack of vaccinations threatens the global progress against measles and many other diseases.

Getting all of the recommended vaccines on time is the safest and best way to protect your family from diseases that can cause serious illness, long-term disability, and death.

The webinar will begin at 4:30 pm. To register, go to: https://www.riverviewhealth.org/forms/why-vaccinate-webinar-registration/