Childhood vaccination rates are an area in which Washington state should not be a follower. But at least we aren't at the bottom among the states anymore.
Since 2003, the state Department of Health has made a very effective push to raise vaccination rates among Washington's young children. We've gone from little more than 56 percent coverage to more than 71 percent. That starts to put us within striking distance of the goal of having 80 percent coverage among younger children.
The state was honored last month for the nation's greatest improvement. King County was judged the most improved urban area.
For all that, however, we still have a good way to go. Forty other states and the District of Columbia still do better, and the country as a whole had reached 80 percent coverage among children 19 to 35 months old in 2004. It's important for growing numbers of parents to keep listening to the advice of state and national authorities about the benefits of vaccinations.
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