Benton County health officials are urging parents and caregivers to review their children’s vaccination records as the new school year begins, citing a continued decline in immunization rates across the state and county.
The Benton County Health Department said Monday that fewer students than ever are attending school without meeting all required vaccinations, a trend it first flagged in June. Officials say the drop raises the risk of outbreaks of diseases such as measles and pertussis, which can spread rapidly through schools and childcare settings.
Luv Paresa, immunization coordinator for the county health department, said summer travel often contributes to the seasonal spread of illness once students and staff return to shared indoor spaces in the fall.
“Now is a great time to ensure our children and the community is protected by getting kids and teens up to date on recommended and required vaccines,” Paresa said in a statement.
Health officials said current vaccination rates in the county are not sufficient to sustain community immunity — the level of protection reached when enough people are immune to a disease that it can no longer spread easily through a population.
While most Benton County families choose to vaccinate their children, immunization rates vary by individual school.
Dr. Carolina Amador, the county’s health officer and a pediatrician, said existing rates are not high enough to prevent measles outbreaks and encouraged families to check their own school’s data to gauge risk. School-by-school immunization figures are available through the Oregon Health Authority’s School Immunization Data Dashboard.
Data available on Philomath shows overall vaccination rates of 85.7% at Philomath Academy, 89.7% at the middle school, 93.2% at the elementary school and 93.7% at the high school.
Under Oregon law, students who are not fully vaccinated can be excluded from school or childcare during a disease outbreak to limit its spread. The length of exclusion depends on the illness — during a measles outbreak, for example, unvaccinated students must stay home for at least 21 days, which can disrupt schooling, extracurricular activities and family routines.
The health department recommends families use the start of the school year to confirm their children meet vaccination requirements. Suggested steps include:
- Checking which vaccines are required for school and childcare enrollment.
- Reviewing existing vaccine records for accuracy and completeness.
- Scheduling any needed vaccine appointments.
- Contacting a provider with questions about required or recommended vaccines.
Families needing vaccines for their children can contact their health care provider or call Benton County Health Department at 541-766-6835. The department’s Public Health Immunization Clinic, located at 530 NW 27th St. in Corvallis, is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and accepts walk-ins. The clinic offers extended appointment times and can help track down or update out-of-state or international vaccination records.
More information, including a printable schedule of school-required vaccines in English and Spanish, is available on Benton County’s immunizations webpage.