Kandiyohi County Public Health highlights dip in childhood immunizations; launches museum exhibit and outreach

Kandiyohi County Public Health told the county board on April 15 that county childhood immunization completion rates fell from 67% in 2023 to 63% in 2024 for two-year-olds, and staff outlined a multi-pronged education and access campaign intended to raise rates.

Brandy Graff, the county immunization coordinator, said that the department offers reduced-fee immunization clinics for uninsured and underinsured residents and also partners with local providers on outreach. She said the county administered 598 vaccine doses to 236 clients in 2024 through the public-health clinics.

Public Health described a one-week, family-focused exhibit at the Village Children’s Museum titled “Viruses Out, Vaccines In,” opening April 21 with free admission for the week. The exhibit — intended for children roughly ages 1–7 — includes hands-on activities, kid-friendly visuals, a toy clinic area and printed materials with QR codes linking to CDC and state resources. Staff plan in-person outreach during the opening, Spanish-language radio ads, a countywide mailed postcard and a billboard and bus-wrap advertising; many materials were paid with recent COVID-era public-health grant funds.

Board members asked about underlying causes for the decline in coverage and whether the county is seeing vaccine hesitancy. Public Health staff said hesitancy and access both play roles; staff described steps taken to reach homebound residents and seniors, and noted prior local education efforts such as fraud-awareness training tied to outreach to elders.

Public Health also presented a separate staffing opportunity: the county has been awarded an AMPACT (AmeriCorps) member placement focused on communications. Health and Human Services Director Caroline Khan said AMPACT will provide a stipend, benefits and training for a one-year member whose primary role would be communications and outreach (social media, newsletters, surveys and community engagement). The AMPACT program supplies the stipend and benefits; the county will host and supervise the member, and staff time used for supervision can be charged to an existing public-health grant.

Board action and relevance: The board approved a $2,000 county contribution to Kandiyohi County Economic Development to match a grant for a Digital Opportunity Plan (separate agenda item). Although that contribution is not earmarked for vaccines, the county’s broader public-health and communications investments were discussed and the board thanked staff for the community outreach work.

What staff plan next: The immunization team will run the museum exhibit April 21–27, continue radio and social-media outreach, and consider a community survey to probe reasons for missed vaccinations. The county’s AMPACT placement will begin after AMPACT recruits and assigns a member; AMPACT pays the stipend, educational award and health insurance and handles member recruitment with input from the host site.

Speakers - Chris Wenisch, Supervisor, Kandiyohi County Public Health - Brandy Graff, Immunization Coordinator, Kandiyohi County Public Health - Ashley Klein, Child and Teen Checkups coordinator, Kandiyohi County Public Health - Caroline Khan, Health and Human Services Director

Sources: Kandiyohi County Board meeting transcript, April 15, 2025.