State Department of Health Expressing Concerns About Vaccine Use Dropping

The Washington State Department of Health is raising some concerns regarding decreases in pre-teen vaccination rates.

According to data released this week, there was significant drops in Tdap, or the tetanus vaccine, along with two other recommended vaccines in 2020.

Acting Assistant Secretary Michele Roberts says, "We need to get children caught up now on vaccines they missed. They are headed back to school soon, and flu activity often picks up in the fall."

Some of the notable drops seen among the 11 and 12-year-olds were:

• An 11% decrease in Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) vaccine, from 60.3% in 2019 to 49.2% in 2020. One dose of Tdap is required to enter 7^th grade in Washington state.
• An 8.4% decrease in meningococcal vaccine, from 50.7% in 2019 to 42.3% in 2020.
• A 5.6% decrease in HPV vaccine, from 42.0% in 2019 to 36.4% in 2020. The HPV vaccine prevents several types of cancer and is more effective when given at the recommended age.
• A 6.0% decrease in the proportion receiving the 1:1:1 series (1 dose of Tdap, 1 or more doses of meningococcal vaccine, and 1 or more doses of HPV vaccine) from 39.4% in 2019 to 33.4% in 2020.