Health
Immunization rates are up, but they could be better
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 16, 2004
The nation's childhood immunization rates are at record high levels, including significant increases for chickenpox and pneumococcal pneumonia immunizations, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services announced July 29.
However, "a substantial number of children in the United States still aren't adequately protected from vaccine-preventable diseases," said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director July Gerberding, MD, MPH.
"Let us renew our efforts during National Immunization Awareness Month to ensure that no child, adolescent or adult will have to needlessly suffer from a vaccine-preventable disease," she said at a press conference to kick off immunization awareness month in August.
National coverage with chickenpox vaccine increased from 80.6% in 2002 to 84.8% in 2003. Coverage for three or more doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine increased from 40.9% in 2002 to 68.1% in 2003. Coverage for four or more doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, reported for the first time this year, was 36.7%.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/08/16/hlbf0816.htm.
