File photo

By Michael Reeve

Immunization rates

Interior Health has seen drop in post-COVID childhood immunizations

Aug 26, 2024 | 5:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — The summer is coming to a close with children set to return to classrooms on Sept. 3.

Interior Health (IH) is reminding parents to ensure kids are up to date on immunizations for things like measles, mumps, rubella and polio, along with boosters for tetanus.

“We know that vaccine-preventable diseases have not gone away and we also know that vaccines are the best tools that we have available to protect our children against those vaccine-preventable diseases that can be dangerous sometimes,” said IH Medical Health Officer Dr. Sanaz Vaseghi.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, IH has seen a drop in childhood vaccination coverage. With that in mind, Interior Health is attempting to tackle misinformation being spread online about vaccines.

“We would like to encourage parents to access the information for valid and trusted sources,” said Vaseghi. “So you can check Interior Health website, BC CDC (Centre for Disease Control) website and public health agency of Canada website. If you haven’t made up your mind or if you are still hesitant, you feel you need some information to make a decision, go check those valid websites. You can see what is the benefits of the vaccine, if they are safe or not.”

Question of the Week

Is returning to a balanced budget one of your BC election priorities?

13h ago

BC Votes

B.C. Election 2024: Where to go, how to register ahead of advance voting

17h ago

Week in Review

Week in Review: Week of Sept. 30

Oct 05, 2024