South Dakota
South Dakota vaccine survey results are ‘concerning,’ health advocates say
(SOUTH DAKOTA SEARCHLIGHT) – Close to half of South Dakotans aren’t up-to-date on their flu shots or their hepatitis B vaccinations, new vaccine survey results released by the South Dakota Department of Health indicate.
About 63% aren’t up-to-date on their HPV vaccinations, which protect against most cases of cervical cancer, and 78% aren’t up-to-date on their pneumococcal vaccinations, which help protect against pneumococcal infections.
That’s “concerning” to Keith Hansen, president of the South Dakota State Medical Association. Vaccinations are “one of the most important developments in health” to keep people and communities healthy, he said.
As a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist, he is especially concerned with how vaccine-preventable diseases can affect pregnant women and newborn children.
“It’s really sad when someone isn’t vaccinated and then they come into the hospital because they caught a vaccine-preventable disease,” Hansen said. “Now they have some bad outcome that could have been prevented.”
The state Health Department conducted the survey to better understand vaccination behaviors, decision-making and awareness of the vaccine schedule. A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant funded the survey.
COVID pandemic influences some vaccine behavior
More than a quarter of survey respondents said the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted their views on vaccines. Those respondents also had lower vaccination rates for the flu and COVID, at 34% and 4%, respectively.
Among all survey respondents, 96% reported ever being vaccinated. About 98% of respondents with children reported that their child had received at least one vaccination.
About 96% of respondents said they get at least “some” vaccines recommended by their doctor, and nearly 93% of respondents said they follow the routine or a delayed vaccination schedule for their child.
Carmen Toft, director for South Dakota Families for Vaccines and board vice president of Immunize South Dakota, said the state should “celebrate” those positive statistics.
The goal, Toft said, is to reach vaccination rates above 95% to reach herd immunity, which is when the prevention of infectious diseases becomes most effective.
Tdap vaccinations remain high
While most vaccination rates in the survey are lower than Hansen or Toft prefer, up-to-date Tdap vaccination rates were highest among respondents at 78%. The vaccine protects against infections caused by diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.
Among respondents who said their vaccination views were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, 75.5% of adult respondents were up to date on their Tdap vaccination.
That could be because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults get the Tdap booster every 10 years for adults, Toft said, rather than yearly like the flu. If vaccine hesitancy rises, Tdap vaccination rates could be impacted more slowly than more regularly recommended vaccines.
Hansen added that Tdap vaccinations are sometimes administered in response to injuries, such as cuts, to prevent tetanus. Also known as lockjaw, tetanus causes muscle contractions and can be life-threatening.
Conflicting information could lead to more vaccine hesitancy
The most common reasons respondents gave for not receiving vaccinations included hearing contradictory information — from doctors, social media, news outlets, government agencies and others — and believing a vaccine isn’t safe or isn’t needed.
Concern about vaccine safety was the most common reason respondents gave for choosing not to vaccinate a child, followed by the belief that it wasn’t needed and the prevalence of conflicting information about vaccines.
Toft said fast-spreading misinformation on social media is influencing public opinion. So is U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s introduction of “fringe ideas” to inform policy changes, she said.
“It’s moved off of Facebook feeds and onto ‘CBS Mornings’,” Toft said, adding “the decisions seem more and more politicized, and that’ll only lead to more confusion.”
A CDC vaccine committee charged with setting national guidelines around vaccine policy voted on Friday to eliminate a 34-year-old recommendation that all newborn babies receive a hepatitis B vaccine. There was a 99% drop in serious infections among children between 1990 and 2019, which is attributed to the universal vaccination policy. Recommendations for adults and unvaccinated older children will remain unchanged.
The new recommendation mirrors COVID-19 guidelines changed by the same committee in September. The change at that time caused widespread confusion about the vaccine’s accessibility and if insurance companies would cover it.
“I think it’ll be a while before we see the long-lasting implications of some of these decisions they’re making,” Toft said of the committee’s decisions.
The recommendations play a key role in determining which vaccines insurance companies are willing to cover and how accessible those immunizations are to the public.
South Dakota’s survey results indicate that most people place their trust in local professionals rather than national entities: 84% of respondents said their preferred source of health information is their doctor or health professional. About 95% said they “somewhat” or “to a great extent” trust their doctor or health professional with vaccine information — more than pharmacists, the state Department of Health, or the CDC. Social media and news outlets were the lowest trusted sources among respondents.
Hansen hopes health professionals take note and choose to broach immunization discussions more often with patients. Toft agreed that health professionals are the best point of contact for vaccine education.
“When we talk to vaccine-hesitant parents, we’re like, ‘Yes, ask questions. I’d love to help you. I’d love to connect you with a provider who can answer your questions,’” Toft said. “We want you to have access to information to make the best decision for you and your family.”
South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Makenzie Huber is a lifelong South Dakotan who regularly reports on the intersection of politics and policy with health, education, social services and Indigenous affairs. Her work with South Dakota Searchlight earned her the title of South Dakota’s Outstanding Young Journalist in 2024, and she was a 2024 finalist for the national Livingston Awards.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2025 KOTA. All rights reserved.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — You can celebrate Juneteenth in central Sioux Falls Saturday. The festivities start at 10 a.m. in Fawick Park with a Freedom Walk. Activities also include a Spoken Word, Car show demonstration, community games, a fashion, art and beauty expo, a talent show and a DJ battle.
Also in central Sioux Falls is the Festival of Cultures hosted by Lutheran Social Services. The American Patchwork Quartet will perform at 11 a.m. and Nepali dancers NSKK will take the stage at 12:30. It’s all happening at the Sioux Falls Coliseum. Then, the Parade of Flags will take place at 7:20 p.m. at the Levitt Lawn.
Join cancer survivor Lisa Soundy for for a Walk and Talk about cancer survivorship. Hear Lisa share her personal experience with cancer. The event starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Prairie West Library in western Soiux Falls. It is hosted by Avera McKennan Hospital.
Fly a kite at the Brookings Kite Festival. It goes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and a lighted kite show will go from 8:30 to10 in the evening on Saturday. It takes place at the Fishback Soccer Complex and will also include food trucks and kids games.
Also, enjoy the final day of Czech Days in Tabor. The festivities include a craft fair, kiddie parade, dumpling making demonstration and a lot more. The festivities start at 7 a.m. with a 5K and run through the night.
Head to Sioux Valley Cycle Club in Sioux Falls for an ATV race. Gates open at 1 p.m., practice starts at 3:45, and racing starts at 4:45. Admission is $10, but kids 6 and under are free.
Take in Teapot Days in Tea, South Dakota. Events include a parade at 10 a.m., the Mighty Thomas Carnival beginning at noon and fireworks at 10:15 in the evening in the city park.
Take a lunch break and enjoy live music in downtown Sioux Falls. Head to the Ampt! event at the Phillips Avenue Plaza from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
You can enjoy more music downtown later in the night at Levitt at the Falls. Hear folk songs from the American Patchwork Quartet and openers Alma Latina Grupo Multicultural and the Levitt Vocal Jam Camp Showcase. The music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
There’s also free music to enjoy west river throughout the afternoon and evening at Wild Bill Days on Main Street in Deadwood. Other events include a downtown art festival, gold panning and blacksmithing demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
See if you can catch any fish at Family Park in western Sioux Falls. All the needed gear is provided, but you can bring your own gear if you would like. It goes from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and it is completely free.
There’s another fishing opportunity much further north. Head north to Roy Lake State Park for Cops and Bobbers and fish with local law enforcement. All the needed equipment and bait will be provided. It goes from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Roy Lake Store Docks and fishing pier. A park pass is required.
Help support Feeding South Dakota at the 13th annual Prime Time Gala & Concert. The event includes a silent auction, live auction, food and music from Dierks Bentley, Muscadine Bloodline and Elizabeth Jo. Guest Check-in is at 4 p.m. at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.
Catch a show at the Orpheum Theater. It’s the last weekend to see Legally Blonde presented by the Premiere Playhouse. The show starts at 7 p.m.
Experience a yarn adventure at Prairie Road Yarn in Sioux Falls. The Yarn Adventure Truck will be paying a visit from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Falls Park Farmers market in Sioux Falls is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Brandon Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 925 N. Splitrock Boulevard. The Brookings Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon in the 300 block of 6th Avenue.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 19, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 19 drawing
13-16-21-26-50, Mega Ball: 12
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 19 drawing
02-20-28-51-54, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
South Dakota
Communities across South Dakota celebrate America 250 with fireworks, parades, and exhibits
MITCHELL — Happy birthday to you, America.
A series of events are planned in July to celebrate America 250, which is the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being signed in 1776 and establishing America as separate from the crown of Great Britain. Some America birthday events are multi-day, and others include exhibitions on America that extend past Independence Day.
The below list of these events in South Dakota:
On Saturday, July 4, the Mitchell Exchange Club will put on a fireworks display on the north side of Lake Mitchell, starting at 9:45 p.m. The theme this year is “Red, White and Blue, Through and Through.”
Republic file photo
Patrick Soukup, of the Mitchell Exchange Club, told the Mitchell Republic the fireworks show is perfectly timed with a radio broadcast on KMIT. Fireworks technician Paul Tol of P and J Pyrotechnics will have the fireworks display lined up with cables, charges and a computer. “He’s got the best view in the county,” Soukup said.
“He has everything loaded and ready to go, he just ties in the communication cables between pallets for the charges to fire at certain predetermined times throughout the 20 minute display,” Soukup said.
The show will have 12 pallets of pre-loaded canisters with fireworks. There is no reloading during the show, according to Soukup.
Republic file photo
On Friday, July 3, starting at 5 p.m., the First Fridays on Main Street by Mitchell Main Street and Beyond will feature an old school fire hydrant party with the Mitchell Fire Department, patriotic live music by the Layton Lee Band, and car show awards will also be given for red, white, and blue colored cars. Attendees are encouraged to wear their best red, white and blue outfits, and there’s something for the youth with a kids decorated bike contest.
Mitchell Main Street and Beyond Executive Director Elizabeth Luczak said her favorite part of last year’s celebration was watching the kids decorate their bikes.
“Letting kids decorate their bikes as red, white, and blue truly teaches the next generation how to really appreciate and celebrate their freedom on July 4, and just have fun with it,” Luczak said.
Republic file photo
On Saturday, July 18, the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo will have its annual parade down Mitchell’s Main Street starting at 10:30 a.m. This year’s theme is “America 250: Red, White and Blue.” Floats will be judged on the categories of antique, horse drawn, humorous, youth, and best use of theme, among others.
On Thursday, July 2, Sioux Falls will host the Stars and Stripes Family Stroll at Arrowhead Park. Attendees must register for the event, which includes dressing up in red, white and blue.
On Friday, July 3, Downtown Sioux Falls Open Streets will have Phillips Avenue from Second Avenue to Fourth Avenue open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with shopping, activities, and live music. Also at 5 p.m., First Friday in Sioux Falls will have a Red, White and Blue Backyard Bash at Lloyd Landing. At 8 p.m. at Falls Park, take in the patriotic beauty of the Lighting of the Falls, and enjoy the colors of freedom.
On Saturday, July 4, the Sioux Falls Independence Day parade will start at 10 a.m. on Phillips Avenue, and the fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m. at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds. The pre-fireworks festivities start at 6 p.m. with live music, balloon twist show, and flyover.
On June 27 to June 28, the America-themed Rock the Country concert series will take place at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds.
Through Oct. 16, the Center for Western Studies on the campus of Augustana University will have “Still Becoming: America at 250,” an art exhibition featuring the many dimensions of the American story — its landscapes, peoples, histories, and evolving identities.
Rapid City / Mount Rushmore
On July 3, a larger fireworks display is planned at Mount Rushmore. This event is ticketed. Public lottery applications for tickets took place in April, but watch parties and overflow viewings are planned.
On July 1 to July 5, the Real America Birthday Bash will be held in downtown Rapid City, stretching from Main Street Square to Memorial Park. The event features live music, a drone show on July 2, a patriotic parade on July 3, and fireworks on the 4th. A full schedule of the birthday bash can be found on the visit Rapid City website.
On July 4, Aberdeen is hosting a “Spirit of ’76” downtown parade at 10:00 a.m., followed by an evening celebration at Wylie Park from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The fireworks show is at dusk.
On July 4, Brookings starts out the day with a parade at 11 a.m., the Uncle Sam Jam at 6 p.m., and fireworks at 10 p.m.
On July 4, the America’s 250th Community Mosaic Mural will be revealed in Brookings on the north side of the VFW at 520 Main Avenue. The public art piece measures approximately 20 feet long and features a patriotic flag and eagle design. The mosaic is composed of 950 individual tiles, each hand-painted by Brookings-area residents, organizations, and volunteers during community painting parties.
South Dakota State University is hosting campus-wide events, including a historical exhibition on the nation’s legacy that opens in mid-June and has an extended public reception on Aug. 7.
On July 4, in Chamberlain, a patriotic parade will start at 11 a.m. at the Avenue of Flags. Daily from 1 to 5 p.m., through July 4, the large conference room at the Chamberlain Community Center will be a walk-through pop-up museum featuring military regalia, artifacts, and displays to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial. A Rock the Bluffs fireworks show is planned at dusk.
On July 4, Custer will hold a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. at Pageant Hill in Custer. The event is free, and is part of a two-day festival running July 4 to July 5, starting at 10 a.m. with a classic small-town parade with local marching bands, vintage cars, and fire trucks.
On July 4, a parade through historic Deadwood will start at 3 p.m. The town is celebrating its 150th year. On July 4-5, at 1 p.m. each day, live music and entertainment will be held at Mr. Wu’s.
On July 5, a vintage “base ball” game will be held between Deadwood and Lead in celebration of both towns’ 150th anniversaries. The teams will play using 1877 to 1885 rules. The event at Mountain Top Field in Lead will begin at 10 a.m. Entertainment will be provided by the Northern Bills Brass Band. Following the game Lead will have a community potluck and BBQ.
On July 4, the Huron Independence Day parade starts at 10:30 a.m., a BBQ and vendor fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will be held at Campbell Park. Fireworks are planned at two sites, Ravine Lake and Lake Byron. Both displays are expected to start by 10 p.m.
On July 4, the day’s events in Interior include a parade at 10 a.m., a car show at 11 a.m., a corn hole tournament at 1 p.m., triathlon rodeo at 5 p.m., and fireworks at 9 p.m.
On July 4, the Madison fireworks show will be at 10 p.m. at Prairie Village.
The 100th annual Fort Pierre Rodeo performances will be June 30 to July 4.
On July 3, there will be a boat parade and a concert by Wade Hayes.
On July 4, there will be the annual parade and a B-1 Bomber flyover, and the grand finale fireworks Saturday night.
On July 3, Platte will host a birthday party for America at 11:30 a.m. at North Park with free pork, water games, and kickball and volleyball. Fireworks will follow a 7:30 p.m. baseball game at Platte Baseball Field.
On July 4, the Independence Day parade starts at 10 a.m. and fireworks are to start at 10 p.m. at Redfield Lake.
On July 3, the Spearfish America 250th Parade starts at 2 p.m. at the Spearfish High School and continues down Main Street.
On July 4, the Watertown Independence Day Parade will be held in Downtown Watertown. Candy toss will start at 1:45 p.m. followed by the parade at 2 p.m. The parade will take place rain or shine. City of Watertown Fireworks will be held at dusk on July 4th at the Anza Soccer Complex.
On July 4, the fireworks display starts at 10 p.m at Riverside Park in Yankton. There will be a week-long celebration starting on June 29, with live music, historical presentations, family activities, free museum tours, patriotic performances, food vendors, and special programs for all ages.
-
News9 minutes agoDOJ memo stokes fear among disability advocates of a return to institutionalization
-
Los Angeles, Ca2 hours agoArmed home invasion in L.A.’s Fairfax District leaves resident assaulted
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoTigers top Chicago White Sox 4-1; Detroit pitcher Troy Melton allows 1 hit in 6 innings
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoMLB Rumors: Latest Intel on Potential Matt Chapman Trade for San Francisco Giants
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoDallas’ Fair Park to Get $2.5M Boost From McKesson – Dallas Weekly
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoAir quality alert in effect in Miami-Dade and Broward counties: National Weather Service
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoBoston Signs Big Blueliner Rylind MacKinnon To One-Year Extension
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoFire destroys home under construction in northwest Denver
