CDPHE releases 2023-2024 school and child care immunization rates
Public health officials urge families to get caught up on any vaccines they might be missing by scheduling appointments now. Many vaccines are required for school and child care entry in Colorado, including measles, whooping cough, mumps, polio, and varicella (chickenpox). Public health officials recommend talking with your health care provider, pharmacist, or local public health agencies about several other vaccines as they protect against other preventable diseases. Those include meningococcal, hepatitis A, rotavirus, human papillomavirus, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19.
“Keeping our kids healthy at school starts with getting them vaccinated. With recent measles outbreaks in the United States and around the world, it’s more important than ever to make sure all students are caught up on childhood vaccines. Let’s keep measles out of Colorado. Summer break is a great time to schedule check-ups and make sure your child’s immunizations are up to date. This simple step helps keep them healthy and allows them to focus on learning and having fun in school,” said Dr. Ned Calonge, chief medical officer, CDPHE.
Parents and guardians should talk with their child’s health care provider, pharmacist, or local public health agency about any questions they may have about vaccines and to schedule an appointment. School-required vaccines can be safely given with other recommended vaccines, including COVID-19 and flu. Many children are eligible for free or low-cost vaccines. To find a free or low-cost vaccine provider, visit COVax4Kids.org.
Aggregate, de-identified data reported to CDPHE by schools and child care providers for the 2023-2024 school year is available online.
“Colorado parents need to know that it’s more important than ever to get your child vaccinated to protect them. Together, we can achieve a rate that’s necessary for community immunity, keeping preventable viruses at bay. As a society, we are so fortunate to have access to these life-saving vaccines; let’s be sure to use them. Now is the time to get up to date,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist, CDPHE.
Data is gathered through a Colorado Board of Health rule that requires most schools and licensed child cares to report aggregate, de-identified immunization data to CDPHE annually. The information may change throughout the year. Public, private, and parochial schools with grades K-12, as well as child care centers, preschools, and Head Start programs licensed to provide care for 10 or more children, must report. More information on Colorado’s 2023-2024 School and Child Care Immunization data can be found in CDPHE’s FAQ in English and Spanish.
CDPHE is here to help families securely track their vaccines and make sure they are up to date. Additional resources include:
• COVaxRates.org makes it easy for people to look up vaccination rates for schools and child care facilities in Colorado so they can make the best decision for their children.
• COVax4Kids.org helps people find out if their children are eligible for free or low-cost vaccines, as well as where to find them.
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
