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West Virginia Officials Emphasizing Immunizations For Tots

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia officials are trying to put more emphasis on keeping vaccinations up to date for children 2 years old and younger.

The state has among the nation’s highest immunization rates for school-age children, at 97 percent, but state health officials say the rate for children 19 to 35 months old is the lowest in the country.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail said Health and Human Resources Secretary Karen Bowling and Public Health Commissioner Dr. Rahul Gupta participated in a vaccination awareness event in Charleston on Monday. The event kicked off National Infant Immunization Week.

Gupta said the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine that children are supposed to get around age 1 is one of the immunizations young West Virginia residents are missing in large numbers.