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http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/abstract/110/5/935

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Collections under which this article appears: Infectious Disease & Immunity

PEDIATRICS Vol. 110 No. 5 November 2002, pp. 935-939

 

Timeliness of Childhood Immunizations

Elizabeth T. Luman, MS, Mary Mason McCauley, MTSC, Shannon Stokley, MPH, Susan Y. Chu, PhD and Larry K. Pickering, MD

From the National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

Objective.To examine the timeliness of vaccine administration among infants and young children in the United States.

Methods. We analyzed age at receipt of vaccines among 16 211 children aged 24 to 35 months in the 2000 National Immunization Survey and examined receipt at the recommended time of each dose and selected vaccination series, as well as receipt at 4 additional time frames: acceptably early, late, never by 24 months, and too early to be considered valid. We also examined the relationship between timeliness of vaccinations and characteristics of the child, mother, and immunization provider, using multivariate logistic regression.

Results. Only 9% of children received all recommended vaccines at the recommended ages. The rates varied significantly by antigen, ranging from 24% for all Haemophilus influenzae type b doses to 75% for all hepatitis B doses as recommended. Overall, 55% of children did not receive all recommended doses by 24 months of age, and 8% of children received at least 1 vaccination dose too early to be considered valid. Factors associated with not receiving all vaccines as recommended were having more children in the household, mothers younger than 30 years, use of public providers, and multiple vaccination providers.

Conclusions. By 24 months of age, 9 of 10 children received at least 1 vaccine outside the recommended age ranges. High vaccination status of children at 24 months of age does not reflect the reality that many vaccinations are not given at the appropriate ages. Timeliness of vaccination is critical to prevent disease outbreaks, protect children through their first 2 years of life, and minimize the need to repeat doses.

Key Words: childhood immunizations • vaccination • vaccination coverage • timeliness • age-appropriate

Abbreviations: NIS, National Immunization Survey • ACIP, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices • DTaP/DTP, diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular or whole-cell pertussis • MMR, measles-mumps-rubella • Hib, Haemophilus influenzae type b • MSA, metropolitan statistical area

Received for publication Feb 19, 2002; accepted May 31, 2002.

Copyright © 2002 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. [Disclaimer]

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