A recent outbreak of the measles in Ohio has Kentucky health officials again urging parents to get their children vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control’s latest statistics on Kentucky kindergartners show the state lags behind the national average. Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack noted the Ohio measles outbreak is just a car ride away.
“And in fact, there have been Kentuckians exposed to those individuals, as those outbreaks occurred. In in the Ohio cases, more than 40% of those 85 people ended up in the hospital. And if that's your child, having your child hospitalized unexpectedly is a pretty serious concern. And certainly a risk we don't need to take.”
With Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lawrence and Martin counties again in the red zone for COVID-19, Stack’s also touting another vaccine – the latest bivalent booster. He said it can help prevent counties from dipping into the red zone – and people from being hospitalized.
“Only about one-third of Kentuckians 65 and older have gotten that booster. And we know that COVID very disproportionately hurts and kills, unfortunately, people who are later in life and so I would urge everyone for sure who is 65 and older. And in fact, I did urge people who are 50 and older, to please go out and get vaccinated.”
Stack said less than 25 percent of Kentuckians 50 and older have received the latest booster, which provides protection against the newest COVID strains -- and the older ones.
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