The Iowa Department of Public Health has released the 2014 Immunization Annual Report, which provides multiple immunization coverage rates for individual counties and the state. According to the report, Ringgold County has a rate of 74 percent for 2-year-old children being up to date on immunizations, compared to the overall state rate of 69 percent. The immunization rate of adolescents 13 to 15 years of age is 68 percent, compared to the state rate of 45 percent.
“We’re very pleased with Ringgold County’s high immunization rate,” said Ringgold County Public Health Nurse Administrator Becky Fletchall. “Vaccine-preventable diseases once common 40 years ago are now rare due to the development of new vaccines and achievement of high immunization rates. Even with our high immunization rate, we must remain diligent in our efforts to promote vaccines by providing sound science‐based education.”
Local public health agencies perform annual audits of immunization records for children in licensed child care centers, as well as Kindergarten through 12th Grade students enrolled in public, private, and parochial schools. Assessments of children attending licensed child care centers or elementary or secondary schools are conducted to ensure attendees have received the required immunizations and have a valid Iowa Department of Public Health immunization certificate. According to the report, 100 percent of the children who attend licensed child care centers in Ringgold County have a valid immunization certificate, compared to the overall state rate of 95.93 percent. Of children enrolled in Kindergarten through 12th Grade, 99.86 percent in Ringgold County have a valid certificate of immunization, compared to the state rate of 99.02 percent.
Vaccines are one of the most important public health advances on record, resulting in the eradication of smallpox; elimination of poliomyelitis in the Americas; and control of measles, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenza type b, and other infectious diseases in the United States and other parts of the world.
For more information on the IDPH Immunization Program, click here. For more information on immunizations available through our agency, click on the “Public Health” tab at the top of this page, and then select “Immunizations” from the drop-down menu.