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County immunization survey finds access and confidence gaps; health department plans outreach and materials
Summary
Spall County Public Health presented results of a May parent immunization survey to the Board of Health on July 15, reporting mixed parental attitudes, logistical barriers to vaccine access and heavy reliance on primary care providers for childhood immunizations.
Spall County Public Health presented results of a parent immunization survey at the July 15 Board of Health meeting showing a mix of parental attitudes, logistical barriers and strong reliance on primary care providers for childhood vaccinations.
The survey collected 180 responses over three weeks in May, the presenter said, using questions adapted from validated parental-attitudes tools and the Health Belief Model. Respondents were largely aged 30–44; 98% reported their child had a primary care provider. The presenter said most families rely on their child’s primary care provider for vaccines, with smaller shares using pharmacies and public-health clinics.
Survey themes included perceived severity of vaccine-preventable disease, some parental preference for fewer vaccines given at the same time, and concerns about vaccine safety or research among a subset of parents. Logistical barriers were common: scheduling difficulties, time away from work, travel distance to clinics and confusion about insurance or eligibility for no-cost vaccines through the federal Vaccines for Children program.
Public Health said the Forks and Port Angeles offices maintain vaccine availability and that the department is expanding drop-in options in Port Angeles, offering alternative scheduling in some cases, and planning vaccine access at back-to-school events. Staff also said they will produce an English and Spanish one-page booklet explaining vaccine benefits, disease risks, components and common side effects to address specific concerns mentioned in free-text survey responses.
Board discussion emphasized motivational interviewing and working with community partners (schools, doulas, doulas’ networks, First Step, local clinics) to reach hesitant parents. The presenter warned that state school-reporting gaps made some statewide school-year comparisons unreliable because a major district missed the reporting deadline for 2024–25; the department will conduct regional follow-up and continue yearly surveys to track trends.
