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Health Status > Children
VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES
The number of reported cases of vaccine-preventable
diseases has decreased steadily over the past decade. The number
of cases of H. Influenzae among children under 5 years
of age increased from 2002 to 2003, but the number of cases of measles,
mumps, pertussis, and Hepatitis A and B decreased over the same
period. It is important to note that since most Hepatitis B infections
among infants and young children are asymptomatic, the reported
number of cases likely underestimates the incidence of Hepatitis
B in these age groups. In 2003, the highest number of cases of pertussis
(3,700) was reported since 1964; however, the number of cases among
children under 5 decreased by almost 10 percent. Of all pertussis
cases, 17 percent were among infants under 6 months of age who are
too young to have received the full schedule of pertussis vaccine.
Although much progress has been made in reducing the number of reported
cases of vaccine-preventable diseases, several of these diseases
are still common. The number of cases of pertussis, Hepatitis A,
and H. Influenzae remain substantial and indicate a continuing
need to promote immunization efforts. Since childhood vaccination
for Hepatitis A was recommended in 1996 for children living in high-risk
areas, the number of cases has decreased; in 2003, it reached the
lowest rate ever recorded (2.7 cases per 100,000). Rates of Hepatitis
A have shown the greatest decline among children in States where
routine vaccination was recommended, suggesting that immunization
policies are having a positive impact on the incidence of the disease.
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Bar Chart: Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Among Children
Under Age 5: 2003
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