Alaska child vaccination rate at 55%, well below national average

Only 55% of Alaska children aged 19 to 35 months have completed the recommended 7-vaccine series, the Alaska Department of Health reported, placing the state well below the national range of 70% to 73%.

The Q1 2026 Alaska Vaccination Coverage Report, using VacTrAK data current as of March 31, 2026, shows MMR coverage for kindergartners at 77% statewide, well below the 95% national target and the roughly 93% national average. Kindergarten series completion fell to a 2024 low of 54%, part of a longer downward trend. HPV coverage among adolescents stands at 47% statewide. Zoster coverage among adults 50 and older is 37%. Alaska Native children face documented vaccination gaps that compound the statewide shortfall.

Pollyanna Stewart takes over as acting Immunization Program Manager following the departure of Sarah Aho, who moves to a deputy section chief role in the Section of Epidemiology. "It has truly been a privilege to spend the past decade working alongside this incredible team," Aho said. The department also announced that 2026-2027 flu vaccine pre-orders open July 27, that the CDC conducts routine delivery verifications for vaccines shipped directly from manufacturers, and that VacTrAK will transition to a new vendor, HMS/Gainwell, in 2027.