OLYMPIA, Wash. — Whatcom County school districts have fewer kindergarten students who are fully immunized than the state average, but by grade six the county nearly matches state immunization rates.
According to data released this week by the Department of Health, nearly 9 of 10 kindergarten students statewide have all of their vaccinations while the county-wide figure is 80-percent.
The Ferndale and Blaine school districts had the highest rates, while Bellingham and Nooksack Valley had the lowest with just over three-quarters incoming kindergartners fully immunized.
When comparing immunization rates for all students K through 12, the county’s districts nearly matched the overall state rate of 88-percent.
More county students were exempt, nearly double the state rate for all students.