AP file photo A doctor fills a syringe will a vaccine.

ALPENA — Kelly Girard, District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) nursing director, updated the DHD4 health board members on Tuesday of the current challenges the department faces when vaccinating children.

In response to a discussion regarding a recent increase in measles cases in Michigan, board members asked Girard about current vaccine requirements and controversies surrounding the efficacy of immunization of children for diseases that were once eradicated.

Girard said that measles outbreaks have been happening because “the kiddos aren’t getting vaccinated.”

“There’s just a lot of skepticism amongst the generation now with kiddos,” Girard added.

She explained that when “credible” professionals share opinions on social media that speak of vaccines, or tell parents to not vaccinate their children, “people are going to listen.”

Girard said that school districts are required to report vaccination status for all Kindergarteners, seventh graders, and anyone who is new to a district. By Nov. 1, schools were required to have 90% of their students vaccinated or cleared with an immunization waiver. By Feb. 1, schools must be at 95% vaccinated or be cleared with an immunization waiver.

“We’ve had a whale of a time trying to get some of these to at least meet the first criteria,” Girard explained.

Girard said that an immunization waiver opts children out of getting vaccinated, but parents must undergo a training that teaches them what the potential consequences are if their child or children get sick.

“You would get education, and the education is really ‘Why it’s so important to be vaccinated,’ and ‘What it can mean if your child doesn’t get vaccinated,’ ‘What diseases and here’s what it looks like.'”

Chelsea Engle, DHD4 public health nursing director, interjected and added that children receive upwards of 30 vaccine doses by the time they are 16 years old.

“The vaccine schedule is overwhelming for most,” she added.

Mary Hardies, Montmorency County commissioner and health board member, suggested making a priority list of basic vaccines so that parents are not overwhelmed.

“What they need to come up with is that,” she said. “‘These are the basics,’ ‘These are the minimal, the mumps, the measles, the rubella, the polio.’ Because I know my own daughter … she comes back from the doctor and they give her all these plethoras and she said ‘I don’t want it, so I say no to all of them.'”

“So they’re over bombarding, trying to get them vaccinated,” she added. “And that’s probably going to drive them not to do it.”

Girard explained that medical professionals try to give as many vaccines at once “so that you’re compliant” but also in case parents do not bring their children back.

“It’s a funny generation right now because they don’t want you in their homes to do any assessments or to do any help with setting up resources,” Girard said. “They don’t want you to come to their home. A lot of times, we have a lot of no-shows for WIC clinics.”

She added that some clients will set up several appointments and consistently miss them.

“And it’s just like, ‘Okay, this is the third time we’ve set up an appointment for you and you’re still not coming. What like, what is it?'”

Girard and Engle stated that though many parents want to protect their children and do what’s best, many people get education from social media platforms, such as TikTok.

“Social media is our friend, but sometimes not,” she said.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.