As doubts about vaccination continue to grow, doctors from the South Dakota Medical Association are expressing concern for future health outcomes.
Dr. Keith Hanson, president of the South Dakota Medical Association, told South Dakota Public Broadcasting the state’s vaccination data shows that nearly half of South Dakotans are not up to date on their flu shots and overall vaccination rates are decreasing.
“We have concerns about falling immunization rates and what effect that will have on our patients and the people of South Dakota’s health,” he said.
He said that he and his colleagues have concerns about the shrinking immunization rates and the impact it will have on patients and the people of South Dakota’s health.
Hanson also expressed his concern over the recent policy change that removed the recommendation of hepatitis B vaccines for newborns.
Hanson says the vaccination is reliable and vital because contracting hepatitis B as a baby could cause problems later in life, like liver cancer. Liver cancer has five-year survival rates between 5 and 18 percent.
He said about 84 percent of people trust physicians and healthcare professionals for healthcare information.
