skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Doctors Urge Parents to Get Kids' 'Back-to-School' Exams, Shots

play audio
Play

Wednesday, August 4, 2021   

SALT LAKE CITY -- It is getting to be "back-to-school" time in Utah, and pediatricians say a visit to the doctor is as important as new pencils or new shoes before kids return to the classroom.

Since so many children have been home-schooled for the past year, a new report showed they may be behind on their childhood inoculations, which doesn't include the COVID-19 vaccine.

The report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute indicated last year saw at least a 27% drop in kids' doctor visits.

Dr. Jennifer Brinton, president of the Utah Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said it is important for children to be healthy when they return to school.

"It's very important for kids to stay up to date on their immunizations," Brinton urged. "And unfortunately, with all the disruptions that have happened with the pandemic, nationally and in Utah, we have children who are behind on immunizations of all ages, infants on up to teenagers."

Parents in Utah must provide evidence of kids' receiving six different vaccinations, including polio, mumps-measles-rubella and hepatitis. Check with your child's school for the list. Some parents don't immunize kids for religious reasons or concerns about potential health risks, although those are reported to be extremely rare.

Brinton pointed out having to stay home with a serious illness can cause a child to miss days or even weeks of class time, and catching up on their lessons afterward is a major challenge.

"It's interesting, especially those first few years of school, as kids are learning the alphabet, learning basic math," Brinton remarked. "When they miss those classes because of illness, it takes a long time to make up for it. It can put them back, behind in school, for years."

Dr. Lee Beers, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said parents need to make sure every child in their community has equal access to a clean bill of health to return to school.

"Children from households that are low-income and children of color are more likely to have missed vaccines, and more likely to have missed their well visits," Beers reported. "It's so important that we remove any barriers we can to make sure that all kids can get in to see their pediatrician as soon as possible."

The report said while most parts of the country have vaccinated enough children to reach "herd immunity," there are still concerning outbreaks of infectious diseases, like measles and mumps.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021