As the world awaits a COVID-19 vaccine, Oklahoma health officials are urging parents to remember routine vaccinations as well.
Routine vaccines can prevent a host of infections, including measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis and polio. However, amid the pandemic, local officials are seeing fewer children get those vaccines.
"Normally, between April and July, the department would have seen about 5,400 clients," said Ellen Niemitalo, Tulsa Health Department’s manager of clinic services.
Niemitalo said this year, they’ve seen fewer than 1,300.
In normal times, Tulsa Health Department partners with the Caring Foundation to offer mobile vaccine sites, in what they call "caring vans." Because of the pandemic, that service was suspended through much of the spring and summer. It’s picking back up this month.
Some parents might be worried about coming to the health department or going to the doctor during a pandemic. Delays in school start dates might also be having an effect. The state requires a round of vaccines before kindergarten and before 7th grade.
"Parents who are needing to get their vaccines for school tend to do it right before school starts," Niematilo said.
With start dates in the air and questions lingering about how school will look this year, many parents might be waiting.
