New Advocacy Organization Vaccinate Washington Urges Washingtonians to Vaccinate On Time, Every Time

In Light of the Ongoing Measles Outbreak, the Group of Parents and Other Community Members Reminds Washingtonians of the Many Life-Saving Vaccines Available to all Ages

Bellingham, Washington – As the measles outbreak continues in Clark and King Counties, a new group led by parents and other concerned community members has called for Washingtonians to ensure they and their family members are vaccinated according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommended schedule. The ACIP is a panel of independent experts who carefully examine vaccine clinical trial data and ongoing safety and efficacy information to determine the safest, most effective vaccination schedules for children, adolescents, and adults, including pregnant women.

“This outbreak has reminded us that vaccine-preventable diseases can quickly re-establish themselves when our vaccination rates fall below the high rates necessary to keep our families and communities protected,” said Kathy Hennessy, a special education teacher and Co-founder of Vaccinate Washington. “We formed Vaccinate Washington to reassure our friends, neighbors, and co-workers that vaccination is one of the best ways we have to keep ourselves and each other safe from potentially deadly diseases.”

Vaccines are one of the most thoroughly tested medical products available in the U.S. The childhood, adolescent and adult schedules recommended by ACIP and followed by medical professionals throughout the country are endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, among other medical professional associations. Once approved, the safety of each vaccine is followed by four separate monitoring systems.

“I have offered children’s vaccination for free since opening my practice in Clark County, knowing that there was a real community need. Maybe in some small way, this can counter the misinformation that vaccines are a conspiracy for people to make money,” said Dr. Dino Ramzi, President of Patient Direct Care and Co-Founder of Vaccination Washington. “Immunizations have reduced, eliminated, and even eradicated diseases that our parents and grandparents lived in fear of. I believe vaccines are the single most positive contribution that science ever made to the public. In the current environment, everyone needs a health professional to kindly and non-judgmentally get them and their families up-to-date on their recommended vaccines.”

Vaccinate Washington launched in February 2019 to support healthy immunization practice and counter misinformation.  Vaccinate Washington is a community advocacy group working to improve public health in Washington by raising vaccination rates. You can learn more on their website, https://vaxwa.com, or by following them on Facebook and Twitter.