On February 21, 2024, Oregon state officials are urging parents and families to submit vaccination records for their children as required by state law. This reminder comes ahead of ‘School Exclusion Day,’ the deadline for families to provide vaccination record data for their children, demonstrating that they have received their vaccinations or have an exemption.

Families who have not submitted current vaccination records will receive a letter from the Oregon Health Authority, outlining the necessary steps to comply with the requirement. According to an OHA press release, all letters were dispatched by February 7.

Children without up-to-date vaccination records by February 21 will be sent home. Last year, over 4,000 students were sent home until their families submitted vaccination records.

Stacy de Assis Matthews of the Oregon Health Authority emphasized the importance of immunizations in preventing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases, citing recent measles cases in the Pacific Northwest and across the U.S. Matthews stated, ‘Immunizations remain the best way to stop that spread, keeping kids and school communities healthy and safe.’

These efforts are prompted by growing concerns over the increasing number of parents seeking vaccine exemptions for their children. In January, six confirmed cases of measles were reported in Southwest Washington, as per The Columbian.

Ryan Hassan, a pediatrician in Happy Valley, Oregon, and medical director for Boost Oregon, noted a rise in the number of parents questioning established vaccines and expressing skepticism around COVID-19 vaccines. Oregon currently has one of the highest rates in the country for kindergarteners with vaccine exemptions, standing at 7%, trailing behind only Utah and Idaho.