The importance of vaccinations for all ages are discussed during August as it is National Immunization Month. Washington County Public Health Nurse Lynn Fisher says there are false beliefs that some diseases are gone, “People sometimes think that vaccine-preventable diseases have gone away, but as we know with the measles outbreak that’s going on some of these diseases are still around. So it’s important to get that protection.” According to the Centers for Disease Control there have been over 1,200 cases of measles in the U.S. so far this year. That’s more than the last four years combined, and the greatest number of cases in the country since 1992 and since it had been declared eliminated in 2000.

As students return to school there are certain vaccines required by the State of Iowa. Kindergartners need the five Dtap vaccine, four doses of polio, three doses of hepatitis B, two of measles mumps rubella, and two for chicken pox. Seventh grade students are required to have a Tdap vaccine and meningitis. High school seniors also need the meningitis immunization booster shot, and meningitis B is recommended. Iowa only allows for medical or religious exemptions.