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Health experts advise people to get vaccinated

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This article was posted on NBC Montana. Read more here. 

As flu season ramps up, health care experts are advising everyone to get both a flu shot and an updated COVID-19 vaccine.

Data from Pew Research indicates that only 28% of Americans received the updated COVID-19 vaccine last year, while 44% received a flu shot.

Medical experts say the number of people receiving these seasonal vaccines is trending downward as misinformation spreads about the safety of vaccines, specifically the mRNA technology used in creating COVID-19 vaccines.

But doctors reiterate that both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and that COVID-19 continues to present a significant health risk to the general population that can be reduced through vaccination.

“Your chances of something bad happening to you because of a flu or covid infection are much greater than your chances of having something bad happen to you because of one of these vaccines,” said Dr. Peter Bulger, an infectious disease physician at Bozeman Health.

Though vaccines do not guarantee that one will not contract a virus, Bulger says that if one should become ill, vaccines greatly reduce the likelihood of hospitalization and complications like long COVID.

 

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About I Vaccinate

I Vaccinate provides information and tools based on real medical science and research to help Michigan parents protect their kids. Support is provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Franny Strong Foundation.

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You’ve got questions. That’s a good thing.

As parents, determining how best to protect our children can be overwhelming and confusing. We’re here to help.

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Recommended Immunization Schedules

These schedules list the age or age range when each vaccine or series of shots is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). If your child (birth through 6 years old) or adolescent (age 7 through 18 years old) has missed any shots, talk to your child’s doctor about getting back on track.

Michigan School & Childcare Immunization Requirements

Request your child’s immunization record

The Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR), is an immunization registry managed by MDHHS and reported to by immunization providers. MCIR allows healthcare providers or individuals to access their immunization records regardless of their location in Michigan. This system also helps to track local and state immunization rates of Michigan residents to ensure immunity to vaccine-preventable illnesses. MCIR is a lifespan registry that includes infant through adult records.

For your appointment

Before, during, and after pregnancy protection
When you’re pregnant, you share everything with your baby. That means when you get vaccines, you aren’t just protecting yourself — you are giving your baby some early protection, too. The CDC has guidelines for the vaccines you and your baby need before, during, and after pregnancy.
From the CDC

Get prepared: Before, during, and after your child’s appointment
There are things you can do before, during and after your child’s appointment to make them easier and less stressful for both of you.
From the CDC

Mobile app from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
The Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia created a free mobile app called Vaccines on the Go: What You Should Know so you can access credible, science-based information from wherever and whenever you need it.

Find your local Michigan public health department or immunization clinic
See the directory of Michigan’s 45 local public health departments for more information on your child’s immunization record and where to get them vaccinated.

Other Vaccination Organizations & Advocates

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
The Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia provides complete, up-to-date and reliable information about vaccines to parents and healthcare professionals.

Families Fighting Flu
Families Fighting Flu is a nonprofit on a mission to save lives and reduce hospitalizations by protecting children, families, and communities against influenza.

Vaccinate Your Family
Vaccinate Your Family, formerly known as Every Child By Two, is a non-profit organization that advocates for vaccinations.

Shot by Shot
Stories of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases is a collection of stories from people who have been touched by vaccine-preventable diseases.

Voices for Vaccines
Voices for Vaccines is a parent-led organization that supports and advocates for on-time vaccination and the reduction of vaccine-preventable disease.

 

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