DOH using email, calls, and texts to remind parents to get COVID vaccinations for their kids

This week the state Department of Health resumed sending messages to parents of children identified as overdue for their next COVID vaccine. Messaging for these reminder/recall notifications includes:

• Second doses for three age groups (6 months to 4 years, 5-11, 12 years and older)
• Booster doses to two age groups (5-11, 12 years and older)

Notifications use the email addresses, primary phone number, and language listed in the Immunization Information System (IIS) to send emails, SMS (texts), or phone/voicemail in 16 languages. Presumably, the contact information for children under the age of 12 belong to an adult parent or caregiver who supplied their contact information to a vaccine provider.

We are also finalizing notifications for booster doses for children under age five. We expect to begin sending notifications out to parents and caregivers of this age group sometime in early April.

Proposed text for booster doses under 5 years of age:

A child (age 6mo – 5yr) at this number may be due to get the updated (bivalent) booster of the COVID-19 vaccine. Get it as soon as possible to maximize protection against COVID-19. If you haven’t scheduled yet or need more info, visit www.doh.wa.gov/covidbooster.

-- WA Dept of Health

Notifications will continue to go out as children become overdue in the IIS. People who receive these notifications are unable to opt out.

For more information, email DOH COVID-19 Health Educator Gauri Gupta.