Not only was Rhode Island recognized as the 14th healthiest state in the country by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), but it also ranked number one in teen immunizations.
The state received …
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Not only was Rhode Island recognized as the 14th healthiest state in the country by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), but it also ranked number one in teen immunizations.
The state received several national Vaccination Coverage Awards from the CDC last week for the incredible immunization rates for 2015.
Rhode Island received the High Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage Rate in Adults 65 Years of Age and Older with 75.2 percent coverage versus the national coverage of 54.5 percent.
Also the Highest Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rate in Adults 18 Years of Age and Older with 53.7 percent of Rhode Islanders covered compared to the national average of 43.6 percent.
Similarly, Rhode Island also has the Most Improved Influenza Vaccination Coverage in Adults 18 Years of Age and Older. The rate increased from 52.5 percent in 2013 to 53.7 percent in 2014.
Rhode Island’s 69 percent coverage rate for boys, ages 13 to 17, who have had at least one dose of the HPV vaccine was the highest in the country, with the female rate, 76 percent, the third highest in the nation.
After the Department of Health mandated the vaccine for all seventh graders, there was plenty of backlash to which the department hosted numerous informational sessions.
Joseph Wendelken, communications specialist for the department, said any time you introduce a new vaccine into school requirements there are always parents who question it and are hesitant, but seeing such high coverage rates is “encouraging” for the baseline for the first year.
He said, “Ultimately parents recognize that this virus can lead to cancer and it’s important to protect their kids against that possibility with the HPV vaccine.”
He believes that those numbers will only increase when more parents become accustomed and educated on the vaccine.
“That’s good news for Rhode Island kids,” Wendelken said.
The state also surpassed all of the CDC’s national immunization benchmarks for the Healthy People 2020 campaign, which sets a between 70 and 90 percent coverage rate for various vaccines and age groups.
All of the data was collected through the 2014 National Immunization Survey, which is conducted annually.
There are many factors in Rhode Island’s success, including KIDSNET, which tracks the vaccinations of children statewide.
Wendelken says this ensures even those children who move across the state or get a new doctor, even if their medical records don’t follow them, will have a record of which vaccines they have and have not received, benefiting the “continuity of care.”
Also, the Universal Vaccine Policy, which allows health care providers to order vaccines for children 18 and younger, as well as many adult immunizations at no cost, is “eliminating financial barriers to wellness.”
Wendelken recognized the commitment of “talented” health care providers throughout Rhode Island that see the benefit of preventative care.
“These vaccines help to ensure children grow up healthy by providing a foundation of health,” Wendelken said.
Governor Gina Raimondo said in a statement that immunizations aren’t only an investment into the health of communities, but also the health of the economy. Vaccines for preventable diseases help to lower medical expenditures as well as “lost productivity.”
Wendelken explained that there are immediate costs to the health care system from a doctor’s visit and hospital stays as well as indirect costs on the overall economy from people missing work or school.
“Immunizations are a valuable public health investment all the way around,” he said.
“I am proud that we are being recognized nationally for immunization work that is cutting health care costs and keeping Rhode Islanders safe,” she said. “The protection that people receive when high immunization rates are achieved substantially reduces the incidence of disease in communities, as well as substantially reducing disease-associated health care expenses.”
Department of Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott said, “Vaccines are extremely effective in protecting people from the serious health consequences of many illnesses and in lowering the overall cost of health care in our state. Expanding access to quality health services, such as vaccines, is central to our work to eliminate health disparities, promote health equity, build healthier communities, and build a more vibrant economy.”
For more information or complete immunization data, visit www.health.ri.gov.
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
LindaMc11
PROOF? This vaccine has been banned in so many places and has not been proven to protect against cancer. We have not and are not going away. We have only begun to fight for parental rights.
Saturday, January 16, 2016 Report this
VaccineChoiceRI
The founders of the movement to REMOVE the HPV vaccine mandate in Rhode Island http://www.tinyurl.com/riagainsthpvmandate, partnered with the RI Alliance for Vaccine Choice, is dedicated to protecting our medical freedom in Rhode Island. We are currently working with our state legislators and government officials to remove the HPV vaccine mandate in Rhode Island. Visit our website at http://www.VaccineChoiceRI.com/resources to view our 'HPV Parent Information Packet' and other valuable information.
Saturday, January 16, 2016 Report this
PowerS
I assume there will be a follow up article stating that RI also has the healthiest population; and lowest rates of sick days for students and adults; and lowest percentage of tamiflu prescriptions and similar remedies for other vaccine prevented disease. No? Why?
Because THAT is the other side of this and if no honest statistics proving the health of RI's population can be produced then the best, if not only conclusion to be drawn, is that vaccines to not equate health. And good health should be the ultimate goal of the RI DOH and CDC, shouldn't it? The fact that RI is the only (or at least one of very few) states that does not need legislative approval or voter approval for vaccines related to school entry was also conveniently omitted. This makes it far too easy for one person to mandate that our children be injected with chemicals, not all of which have long term research or require actual vetting and studies (like other medication does), before they can learn to read and write.
Fellow Rhode Islanders, please educate yourself fully on vaccine mandates. Do not group all vaccines together - because they are NOT all the same. They are not only for airborne or diseases that are easily contracted through normal everyday school, work, or public activity anymore. Question your health care providers on these issues. Expect complete answers and don't settle for less. Know that you still have the right to selectively mandate if you wish and can obtain an exemption form from the RI DOH here:
http://www.health.ri.gov/forms/exemption/ReligiousImmunizationExemptionCertificateForSchools.pdf
Turn it into the school nurse; there should be no questions or push back from them and if there is, report it to the RI DOH.
And if you want more information specifically about the HPV vaccine, which is likely one of the most controversial school mandated injections due to an infringement on parental rights, the means of HPV contraction (and that it could never happen in school) and the actual medicine in the vaccine itself, I would strongly encourage you to visit this site for a balanced view of this issue: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RIagainstHPVmandate/?fref=nf
Saturday, January 16, 2016 Report this
NOHPVmandateRI
Rhode Islanders against mandated HPV vaccinations has been sharing information about the HPV vaccine mandate for over 6months and has brought many parents awareness that were not aware of the options they have and how to speak up. We stand to reverse the HPV vaccine mandate and to advocate for informed consent. Activism is about a strong conviction of a topic and standing for that purpose, there are no founders to a common thought of defending oneself and family. That is within you and we encourage you to speak with that conviction whether just a signed petition or loud & proud. Whatever your comfort level is, we can and we will bring this in for the win. Join Us/ Donate/ & Sign Petition http://gaspeeproject.com/nohpvmandateri Follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RIagainstHPVmandate
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/MyRightsRI or call 401.4062647
Monday, February 1, 2016 Report this