Lewis County official briefs Board on falling kindergarten vaccination rates and trust issues

Lewis County Public Health Officer Joe Wiley briefed the Washington State Board of Health on March 12 that kindergarten vaccination rates in Lewis County are below statewide averages and have fallen since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wiley said parents cited reasons including concerns about too many vaccines at once, spacing vaccines, selecting specific vaccines rather than following the full schedule, and general distrust of the medical system. He noted some parents are skeptical that Medicaid incentives are intended to encourage immunization and that the availability of online information and alternative sources means families may arrive at appointments already decided.

Board members discussed outbreak experiences prompting vaccination. Board Member Peter Browning described a past pertussis outbreak in his county in which unvaccinated children were excluded from school during the incubation period and many parents then vaccinated to avoid exclusion, reducing disease spread. Secretary’s Designee Michael Ellsworth suggested encouraging conversations between families and trusted personal providers as one way to rebuild trust.

Wiley concluded by asking the Board, "How do we address this lack of trust?" and members thanked him for the briefing. The Board did not take formal action on the briefing but used it to inform discussion about outreach, equity and vaccination access.