Missed Vaccinations During COVID-19 Puts KC At-Risk

Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, many Americans have delayed or stopped receiving vital routine and preventive care. Unfortunately, this has meant significant drops in critical childhood vaccinations — a development that could put our children and community at significant risk of serious diseases. As part of the recently released Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Health of America report, 40 percent of parents nationwide confirm their children have missed vaccinations due to COVID-19. Furthermore, the trend shows no indication of slowing down, meaning we could experience an estimated 9 million missed doses of these vaccinations by the end of 2020.  

For children ages 0-10, there has been a national drop of up to 26 percent for three significant vaccinations recommended by the CDC that were already experiencing a downward trend pre-pandemic: DTaP, MMR and Polio. Vaccine rates here in Kansas City reflect the same alarming trend:

• 9 percent decrease in DTaP
• 14 percent decrease in MMR
• 9 percent decrease in Polio

Continuing this path means needlessly losing herd immunity that would erode protection for children and communities against diseases we have kept at bay, and nearly eradicated, for decades. With no action, we could soon see outbreaks of childhood diseases such as measles and whooping cough in Kansas City.

Healthcare payers and providers alike need to continue to express the importance of preventive care including immunization and routine check-ups. We need to encourage patients to ask their providers about recommended precautions for safe wellness visits during COVID-19. Proper adherence to vaccination schedules improves efficacy, which will also be important to understand and communicate as we anticipate the approval and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.

As healthcare professionals, it’s our responsibility to educate patients and facilitate their ability to safely and responsibly receive vaccinations. The health of Kansas City depends on it.

At Blue KC, we strive to be a resource for members of our community on all vaccinations and will be placing a significant emphasis on the importance of adhering to the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. The health and well-being of our community is always at the forefront of our efforts and we’ll continue to put them first as we fight this ongoing pandemic.