D.C. urges vaccines for school children

D.C. is urging households to vaccinate their school-aged youngsters earlier than the subsequent faculty yr.

Why it issues: Throughout the nation, youngsters have fallen behind on getting their routine vaccinations — that are required by D.C. to attend faculty.

• In March 2021, the CDC stated orders for childhood vaccines had dropped by about 11 million doses, and in April the company stated it noticed a decline in kindergarten vaccines.

What they’re saying: In response to DC Well being senior deputy director Thomas Farley, 80% of kindergarten youngsters have gotten their MMR pictures, which stop mumps and measles, and 79% have gotten all doses of the shot that stops whooping cough. D.C. didn’t have knowledge on vaccination past kindergarten.

• “These percentages counsel that there should not sufficient youngsters vaccinated in our District to stop an outbreak in our faculties,” Farley stated at an occasion Monday. This places even vaccinated youngsters in danger, he emphasised.

What’s taking place: D.C. is increasing its efforts to vaccinate by:

• Permitting households to convey their youngsters ages 4 and as much as get vaccinated at any school-based vaccination clinic, no matter the place they’re enrolled;
• Putting cellular items at faculties, leisure facilities, and COVID facilities in all eight wards beginning in August;
• Permitting faculties to request their very own vaccine clinics for college kids.

DC Well being will this week start calling households of scholars who should not updated on their vaccinations to encourage them to get vaccinated.

Households have 20 days after the beginning of faculty to get college students caught up on their pictures. Mayor Muriel Bowser stated Monday that faculty immunization necessities shall be enforced.

In the meantime, college students 16 and older are required to be vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 as a consequence of a D.C. legislation handed final yr that requires pupil vaccinations as soon as the coronavirus vaccine is permitted by the FDA for his or her explicit age group.

• Solely Pfizer has obtained FDA approval for its COVID vaccine for folks ages 16 to 17. Vaccines for youthful age teams have obtained emergency use authorization.