Letter From the Board of Health
December 18, 2024
Local leaders and elected officials of Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah Counties,
The TriCounty Board of Health is concerned with the trend of decreasing vaccination rates in our community. These declining rates significantly increase the risk of future disease outbreaks. We are striving to raise awareness of this issue with local agencies, leaders, and community members. We invite all individuals to openly discuss the incredible historic value that vaccines have provided in saving countless lives. We express sincere concern that in recent years the topic of childhood vaccinations has become controversial. We encourage honest discussions about the science, history, and health impacts of vaccines. We are confident that the value of vaccinations will be recognized through the health of our residents and/or outbreaks of preventable diseases. We strongly encourage parents to review vaccination schedules with a health professional to ensure up-to-date status is maintained.
Over the past four years the percent of parents seeking exemption from childhood vaccinations for TriCounty kindergartners increased from 4.8% to 11.9%.
Correspondingly, the rate of adequately immunized kindergartners dropped from 86% to 80%. We want all residents to understand that individual decisions regarding vaccination impact us collectively. As vaccination rates continue to decrease, the potential for outbreaks of disease in our schools, our communities,
and the state increases, even among individuals who are vaccinated.
TriCounty Health Department seeks to help educate individuals so that they can make the best choices for the
health of their families and thus, our communities. We encourage those with questions about the risks and
benefits of immunizations to consult with a medical professional or the local health department.
We appreciate your consideration and are happy to answer any questions you may have. For more information
please call TriCounty Health Department at 435-247-1177.
Sincerely, 
