July 31, 2013
Adair County Education Campaign to Immunize Children
The Adair County Health Department (ACHD) and the Northeast Missouri Health Council (NMHC) located in Kirksville, Missouri are launching an education campaign on July, 2012 with the purpose of raising awareness about the benefits of immunizing children. Established in 1968 as a Federally Qualified Health Center, NMHC is a cornerstone primary health provider in Adair County and northeast Missouri serving both uninsured and underinsured individuals. According to Jim LeBaron, Adair County Health Department Administrator, “NMHC’s focus on primary care and prevention makes NMHC a perfect partner to launch an educational campaign on immunization for children in Adair County”. Funding for this one-year program is being provided by the Missouri Foundation for Health.
The specific goals of this campaign are to (1) debunk myths about immunizations’ negative impact on children’s health, and (2) provide current information to Adair County citizens about why immunizations are important, what kinds of immunizations are recommended, and when immunizations should be given to children.
Historically, Missouri, when compared to other states in the US, has experienced lower vaccination rates for children. A CDC report published during 2010 reported 71% of children in the U.S. ages 10 months to 35 months were given recommended vaccinations while Missouri experienced a rate of only 56%. Locally, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service’s Bureau of Immunization Assessment and Assurance, reports Adair County’s immunization rate for children was 65% during 2011. Given other counties in northeast Missouri have achieved immunization rates of 75% or greater, the primary goal of this project is to increase the immunization rates for young children in Adair County to at least 80% during 2012 and 2013. Requested funding from MFFH will be used to launch this educational campaign with an outcome goal of increasing the immunization rate for children in Adair County. In terms of the Targeted Objectives, the purpose of this project will be to “improve health care for children” as well as “create better health outcomes for children” by increasing overall immunization rates. Please contact the following health organizations for additional information about this project or to receive immunizations for your child:
Adair County Health Department
1001 S. Jamison
Kirksville, Missouri 63501
660-665-8491
Northeast Missouri Health Council
www.nmhcinc.org
1416 Crown Dr
Kirksville, MO 63501
660-627-5757
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf
