Event Recap: Back-to-School Immunizations — Ad Astra ECHO Series on Immunizations in Kansas

On Thursday, Sept. 14, KHI held a panel discussion about immunizations for school-aged children in Kansas. Special thanks to Nurture KC for contracting with KHI to produce a 2023 report on vaccines, particularly vaccines required for school entry. The report took both a current and historical perspective and served as a catalyst for the discussion. Read the report, Vaccinations in Kansas, A Closer Look.

During the convening, KHI invited participants to learn from Ashley Goss, Deputy Secretary for Public Health with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), about how vaccinations for school entry are selected. Participants heard from early childhood experts and school nurse staff about questions and concerns they receive from parents regarding vaccination requirements and how those issues are addressed. Participants learned the procedures the agency uses to gather and analyze data related to kindergarten vaccinations, and the panel discussed how to keep Kansas families informed about vaccination requirements. John Eplee, M.D., Kansas State Representative and family physician, provided wrap-up comments.

Panelists included Geovannie Gone, Executive Director, Immunize Kansas Coalition; Andrea May, Advanced Epidemiologist, KDHE; Linda Redding, Health Services Coordinator, USD 497; and Allison Zaldivar, Senior Epidemiologist, KDHE.

This convening is part of the Ad Astra ECHO Series: Immunizations in Kansas.

A recording of the event is below.

News Coverage of Event

• As School Vaccination Rates Trend Down, KDHE Doesn’t See Requiring COVID Shot Anytime Soon — Sept. 14, 2023, Topeka Capital-Journal (Rafael Garcia)
• Health Experts Discuss Back-to-School Immunization Requirements — Sept. 14, 2023, WIBW Topeka (Callie Holthaus)

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students

The Kansas Health Institute admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs and other school-administered programs and conferences. Please call (785) 233-5443 with any questions.

More from Nurture KC

Nurture KC’s interest and advocacy around immunization through its Mid America Immunization Coalition (MAIC) is a natural outcome of its primary mission of improving maternal and infant health in Kansas City. Vaccine compliance is so important to the protection of pregnant women and babies at a time of vulnerability. Nurture KC serves Wyandotte and Johnson County in Kansas. Nurture KC’s MAIC program distributes 700 flu shots each fall in a collaboration with Walgreens and community partners. At a state level, Nurture KC has played a leading role in protecting the existing vaccine schedule for children as well as the authority of public health to make these important decisions. Learn more about Nurture KC.