Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

------------------------------------------------------------

Note no mention of the increase in chronic disease among children.  - SM

July 12, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Children's Health Improved in Last Decade"

United Press International (www.upi.com) (07/12/02); Mitchell, Steve

A new report indicates that the overall health of U.S. children improved over the past 10 years, although children living below the poverty line fall short in several areas.  The study, prepared by 12 governmental agencies, found, for example, that 76 percent of children had received the recommended vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, and flu; however, only 71 percent of children living in poverty had received all the recommended shots.  Bill O'Hare, national coordinator of Kids Count, a charity focused on aiding disadvantaged children, said that many of the improvements in children's health are linked to the booming economy of the late 1990s, and he noted that the slumping economy was thus raising concerns that some of the positive changes may slide.  According to Duane Alexander, director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the greatest impact from the economy would be if parents put off getting medical help for their children or they did not get the recommended shots, although he added that there is a federal program that covers the cost of pediatric vaccines for parents who cannot pay for them and there are Children's Health Insurance Programs.

Vaccination News Home Page

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.