How does your state compare?
The Center of Disease Control and Prevention recently released the report on 'National, State, and Urban Area Vaccination Coverage Levels Among Children Aged 19--35 Months --- United States, 2000.'
Overall, nationwide vaccination coverage levels for the combined series decreased from 73.2% in 1999 to 72.8% in the year 2000. The combined series (4:3:1:3:3) was defined as having:
- 4 or more doses of DTP, DT or DTaP (Diphteria, Tetanus and Pertussis)
- 3 or more doses of the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV)
- 1 or more doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine
- 3 or more doses of Hib
- 3 or more doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine
However, there was an increase for some vaccines, including a jump from 88.1% to 90.3% for Hepatits B and from 57.5% to 67.8% for the chickenpox vaccine (Varivax).
Vaccine coverage also varied widely by state and selected urban areas.
North Carolina had the highest vaccination coverage, with 82.8% of children between the ages of 19-35 months receiving the 4:3:1:3:3 combined vaccines described above.
Texas (my home state I am ashamed to say) had the lowest coverate, with only 63.5% of children vaccinated.
The region with the lowest immunization coverage was Detroit, with a rate of 56.4%, although overall, Michigan had a rate of 73.7%
The top 7 vaccination coverage levels were in:
- 1 - North Carolina - 82.8%
- 2 - Iowa - 82.5%
- 3 - Minnesota - 82.4%
- 4 - Connecticut - 81.6%
- 5 - Massachusetts - 81.4%
- 6 - Rhode Island - 80.5%
- 7 - North Dakota - 80.3%
The bottom 9 vaccination coverage levels were in:
- 1 - Texas - 63.5% (the worst immunization rates in US)
- 2 - New Mexico - 64.5%
- 3 - Washington D.C. - 66.2%
- 4 - Arkansas - 67.1%
- 5 - Arizona - 67.2%
- 6 - Utah - 68.2%
- 7 - Oklahoma - 68.3%
- 8 - Nevada - 69.1%
- 9 - Alaska - 70.6%
Does it matter what your state or region's immunization coverage rates are? Sure it does. Even if your child is fully immunized, the more people who he is around that aren't immunized, the higher the chance that he will catch one of these preventable infectious diseases. This can occur if the vaccine fails to work for him (no vaccine is 100% effective) or if he is exposed before he is fully immunized.
What can you do if you want to improve your state's immunization levels? Contact your local or state health department or your congressman or representatives to find out what they are doing to improve immunization rates and what you can do to help. In Texas, for example, you can visit the Texas Department of Health and the State of Texas Web Page to find your government representative. You might want to ask if your state has a 'Comprehensive Plan' to improve immunization rates. Surprisingly, Texas does have one, but I guess we need a new one.
You can see how your state or region did by viewing the full report:
Previous In The News Topics:
- Car Seat Recalls: Info on the recall of about 3.4 million Joyride® infant car seats/carriers. When the seat is used as an infant carrier, the handle can unexpectedly release, causing the seat to flip forward. When this happens, an infant inside the carrier can fall to the ground and suffer serious injuries.
- Methyl Mercury in Fish: A public health advisory from the FDA concerning methyl mercury in fish and the hazards to women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children on the number of meals of fish that are safe to eat each week.
- Phenylpropanolamine: The FDA advisory against using cold medicines with PPA or phenyl- propanolamine.
