The Kansas Immunization Program has awarded the Geary County Health Department an award of excellence for achieving the Healthy People 2020 national targets for vaccination coverage among children and adults.

Geary County reached the national goal to be in the 90th percentile, and did so through education according to Pat Hunter, GCHD Director.

“We’ve notified parents by mail that based on our records their children are behind on immunizations, and give them the hours because we do just have walk ins, we do not schedule,” explained Hunter.

What immunizations a child needs depends on their age range and what grade they are going into school. School’s also require for students to have certain immunizations in order to attend school.

Hunter said that receiving the award of excellence tells the staff that their work is not done in vain.

“One of our stated goals is that all children in Geary County should have immunizations.”

She also mentioned that the Health Department does work with parents that do not have insurance and are not aware that they can still get there children immunized.

Abstaining from immunizations has been a controversial topic at the national level. The local health department continues to educate the community on the dangers of not immunizing children and what school districts require for attendance in school.