VACCINATION COVERAGE LEVELS
The Year 2010 objective for the complete series of
routinely recommended childhood vaccinations is immunization
of at least 80 percent of 19 to 35 month-olds with
the full series of vaccines. Data released from CDC's
2001 National Immunization Survey revealed that 74.2
percent of children aged 19-35 months received the
recommended vaccines (4 DTaP, 3 polio, 1 MCV, 3 Hib,
3 hepatitis B) in 2001. The greatest progress among
children aged 19-35 months was seen in the rate of
hepatitis B vaccination, which showed a 10.5 percent
increase, from 81.8 percent in 1996 to 90.4 percent
in 2001. The FDA-approved varicella (chicken pox)
vaccine, which was added to the schedule in 1996,
was administered to 72.8 percent of children aged
19-35 months in 2001.
However, approximately 1 million children still need
one or more of the recommended doses of a series of
vaccine to be fully protected. Coverage varies by
race and ethnicity and state and urban areas. With
the exception of the varicella vaccine, a greater
proportion of white children aged 19-35 months receive
the recommended immunizations compared to black and
Hispanic children.
In January 2002, CDC published an updated immunization
schedule (see facing page). The new schedule reflects
several changes. The schedule moved the first administration
of the hepatitis B vaccine to before hospital discharge,
though it is appropriate to administer the first dose
at two months of age for some infants. Two new vaccines
were added to the childhood schedule for the first
time in 2002—influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide.
These appear in a new section of the schedule dedicated
to selected populations. The hepatitis A vaccine is
also included in this section. A new column highlights
the need to reassess the vaccine status of 11- to
12-year-olds at their well child visit. And, finally,
new catch-up bars underscore the importance of updating
children's vaccinations through 18 years of age.
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