During Infant Immunization Week, St. Cloud Providers Combat Vaccine Misinformation

(KNSI) – During National Infant Immunization Week, medical providers in the St. Cloud area urge parents to ensure their babies are up to date on their shots.

The Minnesota Department of Public Health says they hold the week to highlight the importance of protecting babies from serious diseases by keeping them up to date with their well-child visits and recommended vaccinations. The MDH says immunization rates among its youngest residents have fallen behind. According to data, in 2019, 69% of two-year-olds in the state were up to date for vaccinations, but by 2023, that rate fell to 63%. CentraCare Pediatrician Jessica Najarian-Bell says part of the reason is due to lies circulated online claiming the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine causes autism. “It is a safe vaccine. It has been used for decades. It’s one of the most studied vaccines in the world. The claim about MMR causing autism has been debunked by many, many studies, and the original study that made that claim was redacted and discredited.”

As a mother of four, Najarian-Bell understands it’s hard to go through with vaccinations, but as a doctor, she knows it’s the right thing to do. “No one likes to see their child temporarily be in pain from a vaccine, but knowing the protection that they’re getting is really outweighing that, and they are not going to get really ill or potentially die from these preventable diseases.”

Children should get their shots at birth, two months, four months, six months, 12 months, 15 months, and 18 months. The vaccines protect against Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox.

Get more information on childhood immunization by clicking here.

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