Kids can receive free vaccines at 17 locations throughout King County in August.

According to Public Health Seattle and King County, on or before the first day of school, students in kindergarten through 12th grade in Washington state must have received required vaccinations.

Go-Vax Kids, in collaboration with school districts and community organizations in King County, are hosting back-to-school vaccination clinics at 17 different locations throughout the county, with the possibility of more being added. The event will provide all required vaccines, and other recommended vaccines for children age 18 and under living in South King County.

In Auburn, there will be three events; in Federal Way, one event; in Kent, two event; and in Renton, three events. Additionally, there will be other events throughout King County. Families can check the ongoing updated list at kingcounty.gov/findaclinic.

The press release said the events would provide all vaccines required for kindergarten through 12th-grade school entry, including Tdap, DTaP, MMR, hepatitis B, varicella (chickenpox), and polio. They will also provide other recommended vaccines, including COVID-19 (as available), HPV, and meningococcal. The vaccines will be available to all children, regardless of their insurance, immigration, or citizenship status. The health department reports that pre-registration is encouraged, but drop-ins are welcome. Limited vaccines will be available for uninsured adults.

“We are able to protect our children and community from serious illnesses because of childhood vaccinations,” said Dr. Eric Chow, Chief of Communicable Disease and Immunization, Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Vaccines have made a significant impact on what used to be common, life-threatening childhood infections. To prevent diseases like childhood measles, polio, and whooping cough from coming back into our communities, we have to continue to work toward making sure a majority of children are vaccinated. Thanks to our committed community partners, we can continue to make childhood vaccinations accessible and protect the health and well-being of our children.”

The health department stated that childhood vaccination rates have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In King County, childhood vaccination rates dropped from a high of 92% during the 2019-2020 school year to a low of 88% during the 2022-23 school year and have remained at this rate over the past year. The incoming kindergarten class of 2023-2024 had a 92% vaccination rate against measles, mumps, and rubella. The health department said this kindergarten class vaccination rate is three percentage points below the U.S. Department of Human Services’ Healthy People 2030 goal of 95%, which is commonly regarded as the vaccination rate needed to achieve herd immunity.