Washington State Sees Continued Decline in Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Amidst Rising Preventable Disease Cases
Overall vaccination rates for kindergartners in Washington state have continued to decline, reaching 86.5% for the recommended vaccine schedule, down from 92.2% in the 2020-2021 school year. Measles vaccination rates have also dropped from 94.5% to 90.6% during the same period. These figures are significantly below the federal target of 95% for herd immunity, particularly in areas like Whatcom County, where measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination rates are around 81%. The decline is not uniform across districts; for instance, the Mount Baker District has a rate of 68.3%, while Bellingham is at 83.5%. Within Bellingham, disparities exist, with Columbia Elementary at 95.8% and Cordata at 79%. This trend occurs as more cases of preventable diseases, such as measles, are being reported nationwide, including in Bellingham. The state Department of Health's School Immunization Data Dashboard, updated annually in December, provides detailed information on these rates.