When it comes to vaccinating toddlers, there's huge room for improvement in Colorado -- state officials say the numbers for kindergarteners as well as all school-aged children have declined in recent years. The same holds true nationally, where a recent survey showed that as many as 17% of toddlers between 19 and 35 months old hadn't completed the series of shots necessary to combat diseases like measles, mumps and polio.
Dr. Matthew Daley, a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente, is the co-author of a study that looks at that cohort and the reasons why families may not be up to date on their child's vaccinations. Done in 2019, the survey the study is based on predates the pandemic, and suggests that vaccine hesitancy isn't the sole reason for the lack of completion, rather, systematic barriers may be in play. Daley also offer suggestions on how doctors can help families get up to speed with their children's vaccinations.
Editor's note, Dr. Daley is the brother of CPR health reporter John Daley.
