Amador County – Amador Public Health announced Tuesday that Amador County kindergartners have scored a 94.5 percent in a recent analysis of their vaccination rates.

Amador Public Health said in a release that according to a 2010 report, 94.5 percent of Amador County kindergarteners received all of their required immunizations. Amador rated the highest when compared to all surrounding foothill counties.

Public Health Communicable Disease Program Coordinator Lori Jagoda said: “This report is reassuring because it means that most parents are protecting their young children from diseases that can be prevented.”

Although local vaccination rates are very good compared to other surrounding counties, more work can be done to meet the Healthy People 2020 goal of increasing immunization rates and reducing preventable infectious diseases, Jagoda said.

The newly formed Amador Immunization Coalition is a local group that addresses vaccines across the lifespan. The Coalition is dedicated to reducing vaccine-preventable disease by improving immunization rates through education and community collaboration.

Dr. David J. Stone of the Sutter Medical Foundation Pediatric Clinic said that “looking at all California counties, Amador ranks as tenth. As a pediatrician, I would like to see Amador County in the top three.”

For more information on Healthy People 2020 visit HealthyPeople.gov. Immunization rates for each county in California may be viewed at: KidsFata.org.

Amador County Public Health is at 10877 Conductor Boulevard, Suite 400 in Sutter Creek. Contact Public Health at (209) 223-6407.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.