Tribal health groups boost measles vaccination amid outbreak

Tribal health organizations are increasing outreach to address low measles vaccination rates in Native communities, according to South Dakota Searchlight. The Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board is hosting mobile clinics across Iowa, Nebraska and the Dakotas. Meghan O’Connell, the board’s chief public health officer, said it is working with tribes that want to host additional clinics.

The Oyate Health Center in Rapid City, South Dakota, has created a measles response team, ordered extra masks and called parents of unvaccinated children. Harry Brown, a physician with United South and Eastern Tribes, said efforts to increase vaccination must involve listening to families’ concerns and building trust. Data from the Indian Health Service shows lower early childhood vaccination rates for Native American children than white children but comparable coverage by age 17. Transportation barriers and mistrust of underfunded health services continue to affect access to care.