Friday, October 2, 2026
Health officials warned that immunization levels have fallen below the threshold needed to maintain herd immunity, and declining childhood vaccination rates are increasing vulnerability to measles.
Dr. Maria Huang, a local pediatrician and a co-Chair of the Washington chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Vaccine Committee, addressed the vaccination issue at a meeting with the Thurston County Board of Health (BOH).
“We are seeing declining vaccination rates, and because of that, we are seeing epidemics of measles and pertussis that are surging,” said Huang at the meeting on Aug. 11.
She said the consequences are already being seen in clinics and hospitals. Huang said she has seen a baby die from pertussis and performed CPR on a 5-year-old who died from the flu, calling them “preventable tragedies.”
The BOH invited Huang to speak at the meeting in which a proclamation designated August as Immunization Awareness Month.
Huang’s concern was underscored by Health Officer Dr. Barbra Villona, who told the board that Thurston County’s kindergarten vaccination rates have remained below the level needed for measles herd immunity for several years.
Herd immunity, Villona explained, occurs when enough people in a community are immune to a disease, and those who are not immune are protected because the disease has fewer opportunities to spread. Because measles is highly infectious, she said about 95 percent of people need to be immunized to maintain that protection.
In Thurston County, Villona said the kindergarten immunization rate has declined over the last several years, from the 93 percent range to 92.9 percent, then 92.4 percent. She added that the most recent figure she saw was at 91.4 percent.
The board’s proclamation stated the most recent kindergarten vaccination rate was 90.6 percent.
The issue has also reached the Olympia City Council. Council member Clark Gilman, who is a member of the BOH, told the council in his report that the county “no longer” has herd immunity.
He urged residents to consult trusted medical professionals and seek information about the benefits and risks of vaccination.
Huang, who has practiced pediatrics for nearly 20 years, told board members that she was alarmed by the amount of vaccine misinformation circulating online.
She said she has seen emotional social media posts linking vaccines to autism and chronic disease gain traction with families, despite scientific evidence supporting vaccine safety.
She added social media posts and reels are often louder than the voices of trusted sources, including physicians, public health and the medical community.
“The bottom line is that the science is clear, and the science has not changed. Vaccines are safe. They have saved millions of lives,” said Huang, adding numerous studies have demonstrated the safety of vaccines.
Huang said questions from parents about vaccines are understandable given the volume of information and misinformation on social media. She urged physicians and public health officials to respond with empathy and give families time to ask questions.
She described a mother who recently considered switching pediatric practices because she felt criticized for questioning vaccines. Huang said the mother told her she believed in science, but wanted someone to explain her questions.
Huang added those conversations are important because rebuilding trust in the medical system and government requires spending time with families and providing them with reliable information.
BOH member Ray Peters said communities can take vaccines for granted because many people have never experienced the diseases they prevent. He called for renewed efforts to educate families and young people about vaccines and their role in preventing diseases.
Citing the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health measles tracker, the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department reported the United States recorded more than 2,300 measles cases in 2026, surpassing the 2,289 cases in all of 2025. The report states 96 percent of patients were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
Washington recorded 53 measles cases, according to the county’s report.
The proclamation states high vaccination rates are important for protecting people who may be more vulnerable to serious illness, including infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
It warned that “misinformation about vaccine safety combined with the fading of our collective memory of the devastating toll once taken by vaccine-preventable illnesses, is a threat to thriving communities.”
Thurston County will offer two free immunization clinics this month for people ages 4 to 18. Required and recommended school immunizations will be available at no cost.
The first clinic will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 19, in conjunction with the Thurston County Resource Fair at the Thurston County Resources Hub, 929 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia. The clinic will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A second clinic is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 20, during the School Supply Giveaway at Roof Community Services, 10140 U.S. 12 SW, Rochester. The clinic will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
12 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
SteveA
The author who started so much concern over vaccines had his article rescinded from publication because it was fraudulent in its methods and conclusions. The author is no longer a doctor, he lost his liscence. And still trump and RFK jr sow doubt because why? Science is real. Vaccines are safer than the native diseases and vaccines work when ALL do their part to protect their children and the children of their community.
To the extent that vaccine questioning and refusal is present it says more about the adult's opinion of themselves rather than their commitment to their child's wellbeing. Science is real and individuals and thier communities are safer when all are vaccinated. rfkjr is not a scientist, he is a lawyer, and a liar
Thursday, August 13 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Need to go back to required vaccination for kids to enter schools. If the parents choose not to vaccinate their children, don’t allow them into the school until they provide proof of vaccination. Any exceptions should require high threshold scientific reviews. There are some things that just have to be enforced and this is one of them.
Thursday, August 13 Report this
CobraCommander
35-year high in measles cases!
USA!! USA!!
Thursday, August 13 Report this
JW
Fruits of the major gaslighting, propagandizing, and rampant fraud of the Covid era.
Friday, August 14 Report this
Southsoundguy
Nothing will happen.
Friday, August 14 Report this
kikismama7
Perhaps we need to educate our community more as people who survived these conditions are no longer with us. I am a retired pediatric and adult Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician. My father was the second pediatrician to come to Olympia in 1960 and vaccinated many of the children here from 1960 to 1995. We never had a known bad lasting consequence due to an immunization in our patients.
When something bad happens and you survive, you are more likely to need a PM&R physician. So I have seen some patients whose lives were devastated by Measles and Polio. The first was a 10 yo girl from India who experienced polio. Her family could no longer care for her due to her extremely weak legs so she was put up for adoption. She was adopted by an American couple who we taught on how to cope with her extremely limited mobility.
The second was a man who experienced polio in the 50s before the vaccine was available. He spent a good portion of his childhood in the hospital on an iron lung, but he survived. He lamented that he would have been a tall man with a booming voice if he never had caught polio. He was very short with a quiet voice and primarily used a wheelchair; but could walk a short distance with crutches.
Much more devastating was Measles. Again this woman caught measles in the late 50s before the vaccine was available and experienced encephalitis. As a result she was totally blind, mentally retarded, and used a wheelchair. She was mostly deaf, but responded with upbeat one word answers if you yelled at her. Her family couldn't care for her at home and she became a lifelong resident of Rainier School, an institution for individuals with complicated developmental disabilities.
So may I ask parents who refuse vaccines, do you really want to risk your child's life to these conditions when a simple vaccine could have prevented this?
Friday, August 14 Report this
Snevets
She added social media posts and reels are often louder than the voices of trusted sources, including physicians, public health and the medical community.
Thank you for sharing this. Thank you to the other spot on posts on here except southsoundguy.
Friday, August 14 Report this
Shushu
Seems like it is time to return to the policy of no vaccinations no entrance to public schools. Also older adults need to check their MMR titers to see if older MMR vaccinations are still effective.
Friday, August 14 Report this
Seth682
So we’re supposed to trust our health officials like we did during COVID? When they needlessly shut down our communities and tried to have us fired for not taking a vaccine that doesn’t work? All these people who are proponents of vaccines, do you actually know the risks? Have you looked at the studies? Do you know how much the pharmaceutical industry stands to lose if people questioned their medicine?
Have a conversation with someone who is skeptical of vaccines and be open minded instead of just accusing us of “harming children and society.”
Friday, August 14 Report this
Somney
This does not surprise me. "The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom." - Isaac Asimov
Saturday, August 15 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Seth682 - The Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath have certainly had consequences. One of those is mistrust of the public health authorities and the political system that came down very hard on people. However, there is a big difference between that and the child vaccines that are now being questioned, with the biggest difference discussed above by kikismama7. It comes down to an abundance of history and evidence highly favorable for administration if the child receiving vaccines against polio and measles. Making blanket that are critical of all vaccines based on the experience of one specific vaccine is nonsense and alarmist.
Monday, August 17 Report this
TheVirtualOne
***of the child receiving vaccines***
***Making blanket statements***
Monday, August 17 Report this