Health Officer Clarifies Vaccine Recommendations

Every factual claim below was checked against the original public record. Source: original document ↗

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  Kitsap Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Herbie Duber confirmed that recommended childhood vaccines in Washington state have not changed“Vaccine requirements for school and childcare in Washington haven’t changed. States set their own rules for which vaccines children need to attend school or childcare. You can check the Washington State Department of Health website for the current list of required vaccines for your child's age and grade.”
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  A recent White House executive order caused confusion“At the end of the day, I believe we all want the same things for our children. We want them to grow and learn; to enjoy being kids; and more than anything, to live healthy and happy lives.With that in mind, it was disheartening that the White House chose to issue an executive order this week that will cause unnecessary uncertainty around routine childhood vaccination.”
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  Dr. Duber emphasized that vaccines are safe“Recommended childhood vaccines are safe and save lives.”
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  Dr. Duber emphasized that vaccines save lives“Recommended childhood vaccines are safe and save lives.”
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  Dr. Duber emphasized that vaccines protect against 16 diseases“Recommended childhood vaccines help protect kids against 16 diseases that can be serious, and in some cases fatal.”
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  Measles was once common before vaccination programs“Many of these diseases, like measles and mumps, used to be widespread in the U.S. before large-scale vaccination programs began.”
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  Polio was once common before vaccination programs“Many of these diseases, like measles and mumps, used to be widespread in the U.S. before large-scale vaccination programs began. Serious childhood illnesses and deaths from these diseases were tragically common. Most parents and doctors today have never seen a case of measles or polio, and that is not an accident. It is the direct result of decades of successful and safe vaccination.”
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  The CDC estimates routine vaccination prevented over 1.1 million child deaths in the U.S.“The CDC estimates that routine vaccination prevented more than 1.1 million child deaths in the United States between 1994 and 2023. That’s about 40,000 deaths prevented every year— kids who grew up, went to school, and got to be kids, because they were protected.”
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  The CDC estimates routine vaccination prevented over 1.1 million child deaths in the U.S. between 1994 and 2023“The CDC estimates that routine vaccination prevented more than 1.1 million child deaths in the United States between 1994 and 2023.”
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  Vaccine requirements for school and childcare in Washington remain unchanged“Vaccine requirements for school and childcare in Washington haven’t changed.”
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  The state sets its own rules for vaccine requirements“States set their own rules for which vaccines children need to attend school or childcare.”
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  Parents are encouraged to consult pediatricians for vaccine questions“I encourage you to reach out to your pediatrician if you have questions about vaccines or which ones are right for your kids. They know your child, and they're the best resource for sorting through headlines and figuring out what matters for your family.”
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  Parents are encouraged to check the Washington State Department of Health website for current requirements“Vaccine requirements for school and childcare in Washington haven’t changed. States set their own rules for which vaccines children need to attend school or childcare. You can check the Washington State Department of Health website for the current list of required vaccines for your child's age and grade.”