Vaccination rates fell behind during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we’re still catching up. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that during the 2020–2021 school year, only about 94% of kindergartners nationwide were fully vaccinated against:

• Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP)
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
• Varicella (chickenpox)

Why it matters

Even a slight drop in vaccination coverage means communities are less protected against diseases. Unvaccinated children are more likely to get sick, have severe symptoms, and experience complications.

What you can do

Vaccinations are meant to help prevent the spread of diseases. Help protect our members and your community.

Here’s how:

• Review each members’ immunization record against the recommended CDC vaccine schedule and their school’s vaccine requirements for their age.
• Work with the parent(s) or legal authorized representative(s) to catch up on any missed vaccines.
• Schedule the next annual well-visit prior to the member leaving your office.
• Encourage your members’ parent(s) or legal authorized representative(s) to call your office with any questions in between visits.

Resources

Reference and review the BCBSTX Quality Improvement Toolkits, BCBSTX Preventive Care Guidelines (PCGs), Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), and Texas Health Steps THSteps for Medical Providers, which includes all current vaccine schedules, ImmTrac2 and other important guidance for treating your patients.