Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment releases 2024-2025 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, child care, and summer camps in Colorado, including measles, whooping cough, mumps, polio, and varicella (chickenpox). The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommends talking with your health care provider, pharmacist, or local public health agency about several other vaccines which protect against other preventable diseases, including meningococcal, hepatitis A, rotavirus, human papillomavirus, influenza, RSV, and COVID-19.
“Keeping our kids healthy at school starts with getting them vaccinated. With growing measles outbreaks in the United States and around the world, including large outbreaks in nearby states, it’s more important than ever to make sure all students are caught up on childhood vaccines. Spring and summer months are great times 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.
Families 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. Most health insurance plans, including Medicaid and CHP+, cover the cost of vaccines so families do not have to pay anything at providers that accept their health plans. Even families without health insurance can get free or low-cost vaccines for their children. To find a free or low-cost vaccine provider, visit COVax4Kids.org.
As summer approaches, many children are looking forward to attending camp. Colorado camps create a healthy and safe environment where children learn, play, and grow. Just like within school settings, Colorado law requires all students attending Colorado overnight and day camps to be vaccinated against certain diseases, unless an exemption is filed. Families can review the immunization requirements to attend camp in Colorado webpage to figure out which vaccines their children need before camp season begins.
Aggregate, de-identified data reported to CDPHE by schools and child care providers for the 2024-2025 school year is available online. Downloadable datasets are available in the CDPHE Open Data Portal.
“Ensuring our children have all their vaccines is not just about meeting school entry requirements, it’s about providing community protection against preventable diseases like measles. Don’t wait for an outbreak – take a moment this spring to schedule your child’s vaccine appointments and contribute to a healthier school year ahead for everyone,” 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 2024-2025 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.
