Coloradoans Worst At Immunizing Children
Health Officials Want To Give Vaccination Campaign Shot In Arm
POSTED: 11:19 a.m. MST November 10, 2003
UPDATED: 2:27 p.m. MST November 10, 2003
DENVER -- When it comes to vaccinating children, Colorado is at the end of the list. Colorado is last in the country when it comes to vaccinating children for diseases like chicken pox, whooping cough and even the flu, according to state health officials.
"Currently, Colorado is last in the nation -- 50th out of 50 states for vaccinating 19-35 month olds fully," said Dr. Robert Brayden with Children's Hospital.
At Children's Hospital, health officials Monday jumpstarted a campaign to get Colorado off the bottom of that list.
State health department officials said they will be asking for $500,000 from the legislature to expand the statewide immunization effort by building more vaccination clinics, reaching out to children who are not being served and launching a media campaign to educate parents about the importance of vaccinations.
More than one-third of 2-year-olds in Colorado are either not vaccinated at all or not fully vaccinated, hospital officials said.
Using a vaccine is one of the most important things a parent can do to prevent serious diseases in their children and save on hospital costs, health officials said.
Last year, parents spent $10 million in hospital charges for diseases that were entirely preventable with a vaccine, health officials said.
What's worse is that these preventable diseases can cause serious problems in children and in some cases, even death, hospital officials said.
Additional Resources:
"Currently, Colorado is last in the nation -- 50th out of 50 states for vaccinating 19-35 month olds fully," said Dr. Robert Brayden with Children's Hospital.
At Children's Hospital, health officials Monday jumpstarted a campaign to get Colorado off the bottom of that list.
State health department officials said they will be asking for $500,000 from the legislature to expand the statewide immunization effort by building more vaccination clinics, reaching out to children who are not being served and launching a media campaign to educate parents about the importance of vaccinations.
More than one-third of 2-year-olds in Colorado are either not vaccinated at all or not fully vaccinated, hospital officials said.
Using a vaccine is one of the most important things a parent can do to prevent serious diseases in their children and save on hospital costs, health officials said.
Last year, parents spent $10 million in hospital charges for diseases that were entirely preventable with a vaccine, health officials said.
What's worse is that these preventable diseases can cause serious problems in children and in some cases, even death, hospital officials said.
Additional Resources:
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