By Mark Bashore, WKAR News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-855206.mp3
LANSING, MI – Mid-Michigan children who are behind on immunizations have a chance to play catch-up this week.
The Ingham County Health Department is holding a back-to-school health fair today through Friday at its South Cedar location in Lansing. The event's focus is on helping schoolchildren who are behind on immunizations.
Melanie Mack is the department's Director of Public Health Service. "The immunization rate in Ingham County is only 68%, where the Healthy People 2010 recommendation is 90%, so we're significantly below that," Mack says.
Healthy People 2010 is a federal health promotion and disease prevention initiative. County officials say they've contacted about 7,000 families in recent weeks about the event.
Children risk not being admitted to school if they are behind on key immunizations such as diphtheria and polio.