WA's Childhood Immunization Rate Below Pre-Pandemic Levels: DOH

OLYMPIA, WA — A new report from the Washington State Department of Health has found Evergreen State children are actually less vaccinated than they had been before the pandemic.

That report, released Thursday by the DOH, found that childhood immunization rates decreased by 13 percent in 2021 when compared to pre-pandemic levels from 2015-2019. The DOH says the drop was most notable in younger children, with vaccination rates declining:

• 9.6 percent in the 19–35-month age group.
• 3.9 percent in the 4–6-year age group.
• 3.6 percent in the 11–12-year age group.
• 1.8 percent in the 13–17-year age group.

Though vaccination has become an increasingly political issue as the pandemic has rolled on, state health care providers say some parents may have simply missed routine immunizations in the turmoil of the last few years.

“The pandemic has been difficult for everyone. Disruptions to schooling, childcare and in-person health care made it hard for some families to stay up to date on their shots,” said Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, MD, MPH, Chief Science Officer. “We encourage parents and caregivers to schedule their well-child visits as soon as possible, to make sure their kids are happy, healthy, meeting developmental milestones, and ready for school.”

Though the DOH encourages kids 5 and older to get the COVID-19 vaccine, it is not required for students in Washington's public schools. However, students are still required to take other vaccines, like tetanus, MMR, PCV and polio shots. Washington offers all recommended childhood vaccines free of charge to kids 18 and under.

To boost the flagging childhood immunization rate, the DOH says it will be trying a variety of solutions, including the Watch Me Grow Washington program for parents with young children, improving vaccine access in underserved communities, and collaborating with local health jurisdictions.

“Vaccines are the best tools we have to protect kids from getting sick from preventable diseases,” said Dr. Kwan-Gett.

>> Read the full report from the Washington State Department of Health.