SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Illinois is maintaining high childhood vaccination rates.
The state's newly-updated School Vaccination Coverage Dashboard shows coverage rates for school-required childhood immunizations are holding steady compared to last year.
All but one of those immunizations is above the state's 95% coverage goal to prevent the spread of infectious disease.
The Illinois Department of Public Health puts together the dashboard every year using data provided to the Illinois State Board of Education by PreK-12 schools and school districts.
“Our latest school immunization numbers validate our efforts to make vaccines more accessible,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m grateful to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the State Board of Education, school administrators, healthcare professionals, and families for their efforts to keep our state’s youngest residents healthy, informed, and immunized.”
“Across Illinois, families, schools, and public health partners are working together to keep children protected from preventable illnesses,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “The updated dashboard shows that school vaccination rates remain strong, with nearly all immunizations meeting the state’s 95% coverage goal. Under Governor JB Pritzker’s leadership and in partnership with the State Board of Education, IDPH is committed to ensuring that Illinois families have reliable science-based information and easy access to vaccinations.”
“Schools play a vital role in protecting the health and well-being of our students,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. “The strong immunization rates reflected in this dashboard are the result of the dedication of school nurses, administrators, and families working together to maintain coverage that reduces disruptions to learning. The dashboard helps communities understand where we are succeeding and where we must continue to focus so every student can learn in a safe, healthy environment.”
The dashboard tracks immunization rates in the current school year for eleven school-required childhood vaccinations at more than 4,600 Illinois schools. Data from the updated dashboard shows that immunization rates are slightly higher than the previous school year for ten of those eleven vaccines. The only exception is hepatitis B, which was only 0.03% lower than a year earlier.
Almost all of those statewide childhood immunization rates are above 95% for all students. That 95% threshold is seen as optimal to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
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