The shot heard around Oregon, lately, has to do with inadequate

immunization rates, and the risk that portends to our population for

preventing contagious, infectious diseases.

Immunization rates of 75 percent to 80 percent are often most effective

in preventing outbreaks, experts say. However, Union County lags way

behind. According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, in 2006,

only 51 percent of 2 year olds in Union County had been vaccinated in

the recommended 4:3:1:3:3:1 series (involving DTaP, polio,

measles/mumps/rubella, haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B and varicella

vaccines). This, tied with Deschutes County’s percentage, was the

lowest recorded in the state, which averaged 71 percent.

A coalition has been established in Union County to boost immunization rates. The initiative is being spearheaded by Joelene Peasley of the Center for Human Development, and Barbara Wall, an AmeriCorps VISTA member stationed for a year at CHD. Part of the coalition’s goal is to explore why county immunizations aren’t more widespread and what to do about this dilemma.

Since their development in the 19th century, vaccines have been a lightning rod. Opposition has been raised on religious, health and even ideological grounds. Part of the problem today is that misinformation thrives on the Internet. Good science is falling victim to rumor, innuendo and hearsay.

What should be done? Easy access to immunizations is a good place to start. Better community education of the risks and benefits is also needed.

Sure, some parents have religious grounds to forego immunizations, and those grounds should be respected. Other parents, rightly, are concerned that their children’s health is protected, not compromised, by immunizations.

But parents, and people in general, should base their judgements about immunizations on good, current scientific research, not on totally unregulated and often suspect websites. We salute the coalition for taking on this sometimes controversial project and wish it well as it increases educational outreach. Union County needs to boost rates of immunization to ensure it is a safe, healthy place to live.