Effective July 1st, Kentucky is revising its immunization schedule for infants, toddlers and school-age children. Some vaccines required for school, day care, pre-school and Head Start have been added, amended, or altered. Parents should make sure their children are properly immunized, and Dr. William Hacker, Kentucky’s public health commissioner, says they have nothing to fear. “Well, we certainly know that some people still are uncomfortable with the safety of vaccine, even though all the scientific evidence has shown that vaccines are safe. The controversy that occurred in the late 90’s was actually completely reversed by the medical journal that published it, once they realized that the publication was not properly done in terms of research and so forth,” he said. Dr. Hacker says Kentucky is simply revising its immunization schedule so it better aligns with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.