With two new cases of measles being confirmed in South Dakota, health leaders are encouraging new campaigns to stop the spread of the illness with one overarching theme – focusing on the safety of the MMR shot.
It’s a bright, sunshine filled day on the Jones County prairie as the WOW – the Department of Health’s Wellness on Wheels unit – sets up shop to provide MMR shots.
There’s one problem though. In one of the least vaccinated counties in South Dakota, nobody is showing up, leaving nurse Jody Spangenberg alone with the sound of the odd truck flying down the highway.
Spangenberg said there’s no need to fear a safe, proven shot like the MMR vaccine.
“I think everybody comes from a place of love, that they want truly what’s best for their family," Spangenberg said. "So, I guess my advice would be to make sure you’re getting good resources. For my own peace of mind and what I tell my friends and family is ‘does your doctor or your nurse give this to their own family?’ To me, that’s the highest sign of ‘yep, I’m okay with this,’ and me personally, both of my kids are vaccinated, my granddaughter is vaccinated.”
She said when considering the infant mortality of decades past, widespread vaccine usage has raised the nations life expectancy significantly.
“I know it’s hard and scary to see your kids get poked and stuff, but it’s so much better than the moms and dads and grandparents I have to take care of when kids end up in the hospital, or worse," Spangenberg said. "That’s what we worry about. Everybody – everybody – want’s the best for their child, and we invite those who have questions to come and visit, and if we don’t have the answers, we can sure get you hooked up with someone who does.”
Spangenberg hopes with additional DoH coverage and knowledge campaigns, more people will attend the scheduled vaccination clinics.