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Section: Health & Medicine
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• August 11, 2002:
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• August 10, 2002:
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• August 9, 2002:
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• August 7, 2002:
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• August 2, 2002:
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• July 30, 2002:
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• July 28, 2002:
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Aug. 6, 2002, 3:00PM

Immunization rates increase for Texas children

Associated Press

AUSTIN -- Nearly 75 percent of young Texas children were fully immunized against seven diseases in 2001, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

The 2001 figure is up from 69.5 percent the previous year, moving Texas out of last place to 43rd in the nation for the number of children ages 19 months to 35 months who have received the vaccinations.

The vaccination series in the study includes four doses of diptheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP), three doses of polio and one dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR).

"It is very good news that we are coming up in our immunization levels," said Linda Linville, chief of the Texas Department of Health Bureau of Immunization and Pharmacy Support. "Having been ranked last, it's good to move up some points."

The national immunization rate was 78.6 percent, up from 77.6 percent in 2000. Linville said Tuesday that the department's goal for next year is to at least meet the national average.

Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, the Texas Commissioner of Health, said some factors that led to the increased number were the department's enhanced involvement with local immunization coalitions, an additional 200 clinics in the Texas Vaccines for Children Program and an increase in awareness of the importance of immunizations.

Gov. Rick Perry said the numbers show that Texas has prioritized improving the immunization rates.

"While the improved numbers are welcomed news, our efforts must continue," Perry said.

By 2010, the goal is to have 90 percent of the state's children fully immunized, Linville said.

Linville said the goal could be met as long as there are enough vaccines, federal and state funds are available for education, and outreach programs are not reduced.

A shortage of vaccines starting in 2001 may have slowed some progress.

"It got really bad when almost all of our vaccines at one time or another were in short supply or not available at all," Linville said. "The vaccine shortages may have slowed us down a little bit. Right now, we don't know what effect that has had."

Linville said the vaccine supply now is about at normal levels.