OLYMPIA, Wash. – A study finds non-COVID childhood vaccination rates declined during the pandemic in Washington.
The state Department of Health says the decline was most pronounced in very young children, dropping off 9.6% in children 19 to 35 months.
Rates were almost 4% lower among four to six-year-old children and were off 3.6% among kids 11 to 12.
But vaccinations rates actually increased slightly for teens.
The department stresses that it’s important for children to have the full range of vaccinations before they begin or return to school or childcare in the fall.
Washington state provides free vaccinations for all children through the age of 18.