Doctors at Allina Health concerned about drop in routine pediatric vaccinations

[KSTP-TV News, March 14, 2021] As the country is focused on the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it's seeing a decline in routine pediatric vaccinations.

The CDC recommends 14 different vaccinations for children, and in the last year, it's seen historic lows in the number of doses being administered. Childhood vaccination orders dropped by 11 million doses, according to the CDC. 

Pediatricians at Allina Health say they're concerned about the drop here in Minnesota.  

"The kids who are most likely to get behind are the younger children who get vaccines more often. There are vaccines given at 2 months and 4 months and 6 months of age, and so those were the ones that were more likely to get behind and unfortunately, those are the kids who are most vulnerable," Dr. Eric Barth, a pediatrician at Allina Health's Ramsey Clinic said.