The Blog

Health Secretary Mary Selecky

03/21/08

One of the most important things we do at the state Department of Health is provide vaccines so kids across Washington can be protected from diseases such as measles, whooping cough and chicken pox. Vaccination has a positive impact on the health of people in our state.

We just received a national award for the most improved state childhood immunization rates. Our rates climbed 15 percent between 2003 and 2006. That means just over 71 percent of the kids here are getting the right shot at the right time.

The national goal is 80 percent so there's definitely more work to do. Still, I'm encouraged and pleased by the progress we're making.

I'm proud of the work we're doing to protect and improve the health of people in our state - when children are vaccinated, the whole community is protected.