1 min read

CDC Recognizes SD Woman For Immunizing Hutterite Children

Associated Press0

PARKSTON, S.D. (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recognized a nurse in southeastern South Dakota for her work helping to immunize children in Hutterite communities.

The CDC has honored Kerri Lutjens as a 2015 Childhood Immunization Champion. Lutjens works as a visiting nurse for Avera St. Benedict Hospital in Parkston and works with seven Hutterite colonies in the region.

The Yankton Press and Dakotan reports ( ) that before Lutjens started visiting the colonies, 87 percent of children had never been vaccinated or were not up to date on their vaccinations.

Lutjens now says she’s administered more than 600 vaccinations and that 90 percent of kids are vaccinated.

She says children weren’t vaccinated mostly because their mothers are their primary caretakers and don’t drive, so they can’t get to a clinic.

___

Information from: Yankton Press and Dakotan,

The AP is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, as a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members, it can maintain its single-minded focus on newsgathering and its commitment to the highest standards of objective, accurate journalism.
Website http://ap.org/

Related Posts