The McHenry County Health Department has received a $38,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health to increase the number of immunized children.
Public Health Administrator Robert Murray said the county falls below the state average in the number of children up to age 2 who have the recommended inoculations. The state grant would help track infants and toddlers who get shots through the Health Department or the local “Together We Can” network of providers of low-cost immunizations.
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“About 48 percent of 2-year-olds in the county don’t have updated shots,” Murray said. “This program would track shots and notify parents when it’s time for new shots.” It also would pay for a campaign to help parents understand the need to stay current.
Murray said the problem virtually disappears by the time children are 5, because they cannot get into school unless immunizations are current.