According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Immunization Survey, which is published in this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the vast majority of parents are ensuring vaccination for their infant children.
The National Immunization Survey (NIS) is an annual national immunization report describing national, state and local area vaccination coverage estimates for children aged 19-35 months old.
The most recent installment of the survey shows that, in 2013, vaccination coverage either increased or remained stable for all of the vaccines that are routinely recommended for children in this age group.
For the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), poliovirus, hepatitis B (hep B) and varicella vaccines, vaccination coverage remained stable at over 90%.
Although national coverage for at least one dose of the MMR vaccine seems high at 92%, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that many children remain susceptible, as the survey results show that 1 in 12 children did not receive their first dose on time.
For rotavirus vaccine, there was a slight increase in coverage from 69% in 2012 to 73% in 2013. Hepatitis A and B vaccines also saw a rise in coverage, from 82% and 72%, respectively, in 2012 to 83% and 74% in 2013.
Less than 1% of children received no vaccines at all – a consistently low percentage.
Although immunization rates are high, there remains a challenge in getting all recommended vaccines to infants during the second year of life. The coverage of vaccines that are required during the second year of life remained at similar levels in 2012-13. These vaccines are: diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and Pneumococcal disease (PCV).
The survey also reports that there is less coverage for second-year vaccines – and for poliovirus, rotavirus and hepatitis B – among children living below the poverty line, compared with children living at or above the poverty line.
Black children were also shown to have less coverage for the rotavirus vaccine, compared with white children.
There were also some variations between states for immunization coverage. When looking at full immunizations against 11 different diseases (four doses of DTaP, three doses of poliovirus vaccine, one dose of measles-containing vaccine, full series of Hib vaccine, three doses of hep B vaccine, one dose of varicella vaccine, and four doses of PCV), the survey revealed that coverage ranged from 82% in Rhode Island to 57% in Arkansas.
National coverage of infants with at least one dose of the MMR vaccine is at 92%. The CDC say that while this seems high, this result shows that many children remain susceptible, as 1 in 12 children did not receive their first dose on time.
Commenting on this year’s survey, Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, says:
“I want to personally recognize the hard work of doctors and nurses coping with many challenges in the course of clinical work, and commend parents who, despite competing responsibilities, continue to prioritize immunization to keep their children healthy and safe. These people are central in keeping young children healthy by ensuring they receive the recommended vaccines on schedule.”
The CDC recommend that all children should be vaccinated in accordance with the recommended schedule, and that parents with questions or concerns should either speak with their child’s doctor or visit
In addition, the CDC provide help in finding local health care professionals who participate in the Vaccines for Children program – an initiative to help low-income families pay for childhood vaccines. For more information, see