COLUMBUS – Fewer parents have been taking their children to doctors’ offices during the seven months of the COVID-19 pandemic and that has led to a decline in childhood vaccinations.
Troubled by the drop vaccinations against diseases like measles, chickenpox and whooping cough, Gov. Mike DeWine is encouraging parents to get the kids to the doctor.
“We’ve seen during this pandemic just how important vaccines can be. While we do not have a vaccine for COVID-19, we can prevent more than a dozen other diseases from harming our children and our communities and we can do that right now,” DeWine said as he unveiled a new public service announcement that stresses the importance of childhood vaccines.
DeWine says the Ohio Department of Medicaid will launch several initiatives aimed at increasing safe, convenient access to vaccinations by providing mobile vaccination clinics and reducing administrative barriers for providers.