MONDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Vaccination rates for America's 19- to 35-month-olds remain stable and high, according to a study published in the Aug. 28 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Noelle-Angelique Molinari, Ph.D., of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases in Atlanta, and colleagues analyzed data from the National Immunization Survey which covered 50 states and selected local areas. They looked at rates for the 4:3:1:3:3:1 vaccine series, comprising vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B and varicella, as well as individual vaccinations with seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, two or more doses of hepatitis A vaccine, and hepatitis B vaccination within three days of birth.
The researchers found that coverage for the 4:3:1:3:3:1 vaccine series was 76.1 percent for children born from January 2005 to June 2007 and, with the exception of four or more doses of the diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine, 90 percent or higher coverage was maintained for all recommended vaccines in the series. However, coverage varied widely among areas and states.
"Children living below poverty had lower coverage than children living at or above poverty for most vaccines," the authors write. "Sustaining high coverage levels and using effective methods of reducing disparities across states/local areas and income groups remains a priority to fully protect children and limit the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases."
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