Metro doctors urge parents to still get their kids vaccinated amid coronavirus pandemic

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Pediatricians are raising concerns about children missing their vaccinations during the pandemic.

Channel 2’s Carol Sbarge talked to a DeKalb County mom who was nervous about bringing her 18-month-old daughter in for her checkup and vaccines.

Jessie Griggs said she was reassured by the safety steps they took, which included having her and her daughter wait in the car instead of a waiting room.

Dr. Sally Goza is the President of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

She says most practices across the country saw a 60 to 70% decrease in the volume of children coming in, but it is slowly picking up.

Goza says a drop in vaccinations rates is very concerning.

Goza says if vaccination rates drop drastically, then there isn’t herd immunity, which could mean that all children are at risk for vaccine preventable diseases. That includes measles, chickenpox and meningitis.

She says scheduled wellness check ups are also important for checking a child’s growth and development.

Goza says pediatricians are taking extra safety measures. Such measures can include having sick children come in at a certain time and well children at a different time.

Griggs stated that her pediatrician’s office checked her temperature and her daughter’s before they went in the building, everyone there wore masks and siblings weren’t allowed at the visit.

She told Sbarge it all made her feel safe during the visit.

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