Spotlight: Outreach to increase childhood vaccination rates

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, both Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended that children—especially those ages 2 years and younger—continue receiving routine immunizations (PDF, 688 KB, 2 pp) and other preventive health care services (PDF, 965 KB, 2 pp) on schedule. This messaging is important right now, as recently released CDC data demonstrates that fewer children were vaccinated during the first several months of 2020, compared with the same period last year. Declining immunization rates make outbreaks of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases more likely as social distancing requirements are relaxed. Such outbreaks would seriously threaten the health of families and communities throughout Indian Country.

Outreach to ensure Native children are immunized on time is absolutely critical.

Outreach workers in tribal communities can help address the problem of dangerously low vaccination rates by:

Encouraging people to visit IHS, tribal, and urban Indian health facilities for immunizations and other necessary medical care—these trusted facilities are certified by CMS who oversees their quality programs Reminding parents and other caregivers that immunizations are essential health benefits (PDF, 2.5 MB, 2 pp) Explaining the precautions that clinics and health care providers take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during well-child visits (PDF, 498 KB, 2 pp) Letting people know that CMS continues to oversee quality at IHS and tribal hospital facilities   Additionally, IHS urges Indian health care providers and other tribal entities to incorporate developmental and behavioral health screening services into immunization visits whenever possible.