SEATTLE (AP) – A state advisory group has decided not to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for students in K-12 schools.
Last fall, the state board of health established a separate technical advisory group to study whether a COVID vaccine meets all of the scientific criteria to be added to the list of required K-12 immunizations. Volunteer teams are made up of doctors, public health officials, state and local education leaders, and community organizers.
The group has met several times, and in a vote late last month, six supported the school’s call for a COVID vaccine, seven were against and four were unsure, The Seattle Times reported. That means the group will recommend against adding a COVID vaccine to the state’s executive regulations when it presents its findings to the board.
Advisory panel member and Olympic Education Services District 114 Director Greg Lynch at the Feb. 24 meeting. “We can’t launch a ‘move now’ campaign right now without a complete (long-term data) picture, and I’m worried about that.”
Others have also raised concerns about the lack of vaccine data for school-aged children and the potential unpredictable societal impact of enforcing the order.
“As a clinician, I’m used to uncertainty,” said Dr. Ben Wilfond, another team member and pulmonologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital. “Actually, I think the data on COVID is enough for me to enthusiastically recommend this to anyone.
“But for those who aren’t ready to go there themselves and the impact of making it a school requirement, all that comes with it far outweighs the value of the incremental changes in (community) vaccinations that could happen, if We have this request.”
The technical team investigated the efficacy and affordability of COVID injections, the incidence of disease, and the reality of delivering and tracking injections.
According to national administrative regulations, students must be vaccinated against chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B or show proof of acquired immunization and some other diseases.
Students with medical, religious, philosophical or personal exemptions are not eligible.
The board is expected to make a decision on next steps at its April meeting.
This health series is funded by the Washington State Department of Health, which has no editorial input or oversight of the content.
