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Lawmakers hear that kindergarten vaccination rates have fallen as state seeks funds to buy RSV and hepatitis B doses for birthing hospitals
Summary
Health officials told the appropriations subcommittee kindergarten immunization coverage has declined and exemption rates have risen; the department proposed a decision package to buy hepatitis B and RSV monoclonal antibody doses for birthing hospitals using public health operating funds and discussed immunization system modernization.
Health and Human Services officials told the House Appropriations Committee Human Resources Subcommittee that kindergarten immunization coverage in North Dakota has been slipping and philosophical and moral exemptions are increasing, prompting a mix of operational and budget requests aimed at boosting protection for young children.
Why it matters: Declining routine childhood vaccine coverage raises the risk of outbreaks of highly contagious diseases such as measles and polio. Committee members heard proposals to expand access to RSV protection for newborns and to help birthing hospitals supply hepatitis B vaccine to infants before discharge.
“This first year that we had the immunization coverage available for infants — either the monoclonal antibody or…
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