State Health Board Wants to Add COVID to Mandatory Child Immunizations

The Washington State Board of Health (Health Department) is strongly considering adding COVID to the list of child immunizations required for school attendance.

BOARD WILL HOLD PUBLIC ZOOM HEARING JANUARY 12th 

As you probably know, certain immunizations are already required for a child to attend public K-12 school, including MMR vaccine, Tdap, Hep B, dTaP, Varicella as well as polio vaccinations.

However, since the vaccines have been approved for emergency use (EUA) in November for children ages 5-11, the tone of the state's educators has changed.  Originally SPI Chris Rykdahl did not believe it should be a requirement for attendance last fall but also hinted that might change if vaccines were cleared for children.

You can voice your opinion on this, however, you must register for the webinar by Friday.  According to the itinerary, the board zoom meeting will begin at 9:30 AM, HOWEVER, the discussion and taking of comments and input on this proposal are slated for 1:30 PM.

The board says they do have the right to modify or change the agenda without notice.

According to KXLY-TV Spokane, a Board of Health Committee met on December 29th to discuss the proposal.

 IF YOU WANT TO VOICE OPINION AND COMMENTS SEE BELOW

If you wish to participate, you can register for the webinar. Again, according to the agenda, the public portion (comments input, etc) will begin around 1:30 PM. Click on the button below to register and for more information.

Additional information can be found here. It appears more information well be posted Friday, to see that info, keep checking here.

OTHER ways to comment and voice your opinion is to let our area legislators know your position on this issue.  Click on the names below for their easy to access information:

  8th House Rep Matt Boehnke

8th House Rep Brad Klippert

  16th District House Rep Skyler Rude (Pasco-Walla Walla)

  16th District State Senator Perry Dozier (Pasco-Walla Walla)