Nov. 5
— By Alison McCook
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Only 9% of children in the US get all the
vaccines they need at the right time by the time they turn 2 years of
age, according to researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC).
After reviewing national data on immunization rates, Elizabeth T.
Luman and her colleagues discovered that the vast majority of
2-year-olds did not receive at least one vaccine at the age recommended
by health officials.
"Vaccinations received too early may result in less than optimal
protection," Luman told Reuters Health. "When vaccinations are given
late, children remain unprotected for a period of time. This can result
in disease for the individual child, as well as the increased
possibility of disease outbreaks in the country."
Luman and her team obtained their findings from a National
Immunization Survey conducted in 2000 that includes information on when
16,211 children between the ages of 24 and 35 months received vaccines.
Currently, US health officials suggest that children receive around 15
vaccines before they reach 19 months of age. Reporting in the November
issue of Pediatrics, Luman and her team found that only 24% of the
infants surveyed had received the recommended vaccines to prevent
Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and only 27% had been vaccinated
against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) at the correct times.
In an interview with Reuters Health, Luman explained that young
children need a large number of vaccines during their first years of
life, and it may be difficult for their guardians to keep track of when
the children need which vaccines.
She added that many of the vaccines that are recommended confer
protection against diseases that are relatively rare in this country,
and, as such, parents may not understand how important it is to immunize
their children against diseases that they never see.
However, she and her colleagues note that while the incidence of
Haemophilus influenzae type b is low, children who are not vaccinated
against the disease can still become ill and die from it.
One method for helping guardians remember to vaccinate their children
involves "reminder systems," Luman noted, with health professionals
providing information about which vaccines are due when. Guardians can
also keep track of the shots their child needs by visiting the CDC Web
site, Luman said.
"If we fail to ensure that our children receive the recommended
vaccinations at the appropriate times, the potential for disease
outbreaks--all the more devastating because of their preventability--is
great," Luman said.
SOURCE: Pediatrics 2002;110:935-939.
Copyright 2002 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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