Vaccines & Immunizations

With vaccine skepticism at a high, public trust in health care instructions is also hit in turn. However, many in the health care community want concerned families to slow down and consider the local connection to the practice.

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.

Measles is here in South Dakota. Amid a nationwide outbreak, health professionals want to spread the word — measles shots are safe and effective.

A new state Department of Health report is highlighting concern over the spread of highly-infectious diseases like measles. This comes amid an increase in skepticism over vaccines.

Health experts spoke with Sioux Falls Rotarians on the effort to eradicate polio and how the medical profession is trying to rebuild public trust.

David Basel, M.D., a pediatrician and vice president of clinical quality at Avera Health, discusses the COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines offered this fall.

RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants. Erica Schipper, M.D., explains how the new vaccine passes protection on to your unborn baby.

Shankar Kurra, MD, is vice-president of medical affairs at Monument Health. He joins us to discuss the latest omicron subvariant and what you can do to protect yourself and your community.

What started as an effort to increase vaccine confidence evolves into art project building community connections.For three months, thanks to a grant from the CDC, the Vermillion Cultural Association traveled the state creating barn quilts with South Dakota residents.

"I'm telling folks to weigh their risks and understand their health conditions. I think we can have really good confidence in the recommendations from the FDA and CDC. And hopefully, with time we get more evidence to support the safety and the efficacy of the vaccines."