South Dakota’s childhood immunization rates are among the highest in the nation, according to the 2014 National Immunization Survey recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The annual survey tracks vaccination coverage among children aged 19 to 35 months.

According the Associated Press, "survey found South Dakota had the highest coverage rate in the nation for polio and Haempophilus influenza B, or 'Hib' disease. The state also had rates in the top 10 in the country for 11 other vaccines tracked by the survey."

Dr. Lon Kightlinger, state epidemiologist for the department, said those high immunization rates are the reason the measles outbreak in Mitchell earlier this year was contained within an unvaccinated family group and did not spread further in the community.

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