The technical advisory group (TAG) to consider COVID-19 for inclusion in the state’s list of required immunizations for child care and school entry (chapter 246-105 WAC) will conduct its first business meeting Feb. 10, 2022 and consider (2) criteria from the Board’s Immunization Criteria document.
TAG members will review and discuss criteria #5 and criteria #6 at the Feb. 10 meeting. Criteria 5 is under the category criteria of disease burden. Members will consider whether the vaccine containing the antigen prevents disease(s) that has significant morbidity and/or mortality in at least some sub-set of the population. Criteria 6 is under the category criteria of disease burden. Members will consider if vaccinating against the disease reduces the risk of person-to-person transmission, with transmission in a school or childcare setting or activity being given the highest priority.
Background and Summary
The Board has convened a technical advisory group (TAG) in coordination with the state Department of Health (DOH) to develop recommendations for the Board to use when considering whether to add COVID-19 vaccine to the rules setting immunization documentation requirements required for school and child care entry.
The Board and DOH held a TAG orientation meeting on Dec. 29, 2021. The Board received a briefing on the Board’s immunization criteria and process used to consider additions to chapter 246-105 WAC at the Oct. 2021 Board meeting. After discussion, Board members voted to direct staff to begin the process of convening a TAG, in coordination with the state Department of Health to assess the COVID-19 vaccine against the nine criteria and develop a recommendation for the Board.
The Board has authority under RCW 28A.210.140 to adopt rules establishing the procedural and substantive requirements for full immunization. Chapter 246-105 WAC governs the immunization of children in school and childcare against certain vaccine preventable diseases.
The meeting agenda and materials are available on the Feb. 10 TAG meeting web page. General information and additional resources about the TAG are available on our website.
