In 2023, 14,000 asylum seeking individuals arrived in Washington State, most with very few resources. Many of these individuals have received minimal healthcare in the past and have not been immunized against diseases that have mostly been eradicated in the United States.  

Wellness Wagon Vaccines was created to help fill a gap in access to immunizations. This is critical for both families seeking asylum in Washington State and families who already reside in Washington State but have barriers to accessing immunizations.  Barriers are often related to finances, transportation, spoken language, knowledge and fears related to vaccines. 

Families living in communal housing situations are at an increased risk of becoming infected with vaccine preventable diseases such as measles, hepatitis A and varicella that are generally no longer a health risk in the United States.
Additionally, without up-to-date immunizations, children are unable to attend public schools or childcare centers due to risks associated with infectious diseases.