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OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — State health officials say just 67 percent of Washington toddlers get all their vaccinations on time.
That means some children between 19 and 35 months of age could be at risk of getting measles, whooping cough or other preventable diseases.
The Washington toddler vaccination rate in 2014 was slightly lower than in 2013. The one exception is the hepatitis B vaccine given at birth. Almost 80 percent of Washington babies are getting this vaccine in the hospital.
State and national vaccine goals call for 90 percent of children to get their vaccines. State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Lofy says with a rate below 90 percent, communities are at risk for contagious diseases like measles.
So far this year, there have been 11 cases of measles reported in Washington, including one measles-related death.
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