Health experts offer free vaccinations for the start of school
At the Auburn School District’s Welcome Back to School event, parents and students get what they need to help children perform at their best in the classroom.
AUBURN, Washington. – More than half of U.S. states report “very high” COVID-19 activity levels, according to the CDC’s latest wastewater data.
In Washington, COVID-19 hospitalizations remain lower compared to previous years. However, the state Department of Health (DOH) said the trend line for the summer months of June through August shows a slight increase in the percentage of COVID-19 hospitalizations, particularly in July and early August. DOH officials said this indicates a slight increase in hospitalizations during the summer, but does not reach the peaks of previous seasons.
Some families said they were also concerned about other viruses, such as RSV and measles. To help alleviate these concerns and improve public health, local authorities across the region are offering back-to-school vaccination clinics.
The Auburn School District’s back-to-school welcome event included a health and wellness clinic, and Johnathan Barnes and his two children were one of the first families to get their vaccinations updated, a requirement for Washington students before starting school.
“It’s good to take care of your health and your well-being. And thanks to the vaccinations, (my son) can go to school. And that’s just good information,” Barnes said.
Go Vax Kids is a mobile vaccination service funded by a grant from the Seattle & King County Health Department. Through this partnership, Go Vax Kids provides free vaccinations to all students in south King County, as well as children who are uninsured, homeless, or recent immigrants to the United States who do not have a doctor.
“We want children to be vaccinated, it prevents disease and we want to keep children up to date so that there are no outbreaks of preventable diseases like chickenpox or measles. I think we had a few hepatitis outbreaks last year,” says Marissa Fitzpatrick, a nurse and immunization coordinator at Go Vax Kids.
Fitzpatrick said some families have questions about COVID as the Department of Health reported that the total number of COVID-19 deaths statewide has gradually increased over the summer. Officials said while the overall numbers are still low compared to previous years, there is a noticeable, steady increase in deaths, indicating that despite the lower hospitalization rates, the severity of the disease in some patients remains a concern.
Fitzpatrick explained that Go Vax Kids will provide the new updated COVID vaccine when it becomes available in September, but they also offer the current vaccine.
“We have some of the 2023 vaccines for children who have never been vaccinated or who didn’t get their booster from last year,” Fitzpatrick said. “Even if it doesn’t completely prevent the disease, it at least reduces the severity of the disease so the children don’t get as sick as they otherwise would have.”
Fitzpatrick said an important part of Go Vax Kids’ outreach is meeting families locally to improve access to care. The mobile vaccination service has a list of appointment times and locations for free vaccinations for children under 18 on its website.
“Often you have to wait months or two months for a vaccination appointment at pediatricians’ offices,” said Fitzpatrick. “We can reach people who would not normally be able to go to a doctor or clinic and take care of their vaccination.”
The county health department also has a list of vaccination appointments taking place this month, including during back-to-school events at Federal Way High School on Aug. 16 and at Kent Library on Aug. 17.
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