Reminder to Parents: Keep Up with Immunizations and Well Checks
Date: 12/14/20
Fort Lauderdale, FL
You’ve no doubt read and heard a lot about the new COVID-19 vaccines that will be available over the next few months. It’s great news.
In the meantime, it’s important not to forget about the vital vaccines that are available right now for your children to help prevent countless illnesses – measles, mumps, whooping cough – vaccines that will cost you nothing if you have health insurance.
Unfortunately, across Florida, COVID-19 concerns have kept many people away from seeking medical care, and the decline in pediatric care has been especially sharp nationally – a 47% cumulative decline between mid-March and June, according to a report in Healio. That has led to a decline in immunizations. In July, Scientific American obtained vaccination rates from across the country, comparing the initial months of the pandemic to similar time periods in 2019 and 2018. Immunization rates in Florida declined by more than 30 percent.
As the chief medical officer for Sunshine Health, which includes Medicaid and Ambetter plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace, I see this as an important public health issue for our children.
Last year, the CDC reported the highest number of measles cases since 1992 — and about 10% of them were sick enough to be hospitalized. Vaccination rates for measles need to be at 93% to 95% of the population to prevent a spread, but this year, among Kindergarteners, Florida fell off track because of declines in the spring.
As we continue to face a global pandemic, the highly contagious nature of these diseases is exactly why we need to stay on top of immunizations. The last thing we need is another viral outbreak while hospitals continue to deal with an influx of patients and a shortage of both staff and personal protective equipment.
Even children with milder cases of diseases like measles or whooping cough tend to experience unpleasant symptoms such as a fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, rash, or vomiting that can last anywhere from days to weeks. Let’s prevent the needless suffering of our children and of other vulnerable children who could catch these contagious diseases.
The schedule of immunizations for children recommended by the CDC is carefully considered for necessity and timing, and delays for vaccinations or booster shots put children at greater risk of disease.
The good news is that your doctor has made changes to help ensure that you and children can safely visit to receive vital preventive care. Expect to see everyone in masks, and you may find that the waiting room is now in the parking lot. What’s more, the Affordable Care Act guarantees that immunizations are free of charge for you, as long as you’re covered. While open enrollment ended Dec. 15, people with certain qualifying life events can sign up at any time during the year at HealthCare.gov or Ambetter.SunshineHealth.com. Qualifying life events include things like job loss, marriage, divorce, child birth and adoption, and people must sign up for coverage within 60 days of their status change.
This year, don’t let COVID-19 or a lack of health insurance prevent you from scheduling annual examinations and vaccinations against measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, or influenza.
Katherine Friedebach, M.D. is the Chief Medical Officer for Sunshine Health.