EIHPD encourages parents to get their kids vaccinated

The Eastern Idaho Public Health District is offering a free immunization clinic for children under the age of 18.

There is a large movement of parents who are choosing to not have their children vaccinated and, across the country, there are children who are taking the hit from this choice.

Amy Gamett, the director of the Family and Community Health Services Division at the Eastern Idaho Public Health District, has worked in the health care industry for over 20 years and knows firsthand how not getting vaccinated can affect a person’s life.

Gamett said, “Vaccines are great. They help reduce death and disabilities for many years. Even my own dad, as a young child before vaccination, he got mumps and became deaf and has to live with that disability the rest of his life from that. I’m grateful that kids and myself never had to go through that because we got vaccinated.”

Skipping a routine vaccination can lead to a severe consequence. not just for the individual who didn’t take their shot but also for the people around them.

Gamett said, “When you get vaccinated, you’re not just protecting yourself but you’re protecting everyone around you.”

Medical professionals say there are two types of people who do not receive vaccinations. : those who choose not to and those who are medically declined to receive vaccination by doctor’s order.

There are a lot of vulnerable people who can’t be vaccinated.

“There are reasons why people should not receive a vaccination, but when people choose not to get vaccinated, they are not only putting themselves at risk they are putting the community at risk. That’s what we are seeing with these large outbreaks,” said Gamett.

Exemption rates vary from state to state and, currently, Idaho is one of the states with higher exemption rates for school-age children.

Gamett said, “We have definitely seen exemption rates rise in the last three years. Idaho medical exemption has stayed about the same so the number of exemptions for school-age children who medically can’t receive vaccines is pretty steady. It is our personal belief that exemptions continue to rise every year.”

The Eastern Idaho Public Health District is doing what it can to educate Idahoans on the correct information about vaccination and keep our community members safe and healthy.

“Here at the health department, it’s a challenge. The internet has much information out there so it’s had to tell what’s fake news and what’s not. Vaccines are great. They save lives every day and we do that here at the health department. We’re saving lives every day,” Gamett said.

At this time, Oregon and Washington are experiencing a measles outbreak and Eastern Idaho
Public Health District said it’s not an unrealistic idea for that outbreak to spread to Idaho.

There is even concern that, in some parts of the country, there may be the start of whooping cough.

They insist that if you have not yet been vaccinated, then now is the time.

The free clinic will be held on Monday, April 22 from 3 to 6 p.m. at 1250 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

If you have any further questions regarding the clinic, you can call 208-533-3235 and someone will help you.