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October 4, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Foreign-Born Children Less Likely to Get Complete Vaccinations" Infectious Diseases in Children (www.idinchildren.com) (09/02) Vol. 15, No. 9, P. 22; Strine, Tara W.

A new study performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by Tara W. Strine and colleagues indicates that foreign-born children probably have not received all of the vaccinations that were administered to children born in the United States, especially vaccines for hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).  The survey, which monitored children between the ages of 19 months and 35 months between 1999 and 2000, found that foreign-born children were as likely as U.S. children to have received the first three doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine and the vaccinations against polio, measles, and varicella, but the fourth dose of DTP vaccine was more common among U.S. children.  Vaccinations against Hib and hepatitis B, however, were significantly lower among foreign-born children, probably because there is currently no global eradication or vaccination effort ongoing for those diseases.  Furthermore, because the children most at risk for developing those diseases tend to be in lower socioeconomic classes, which are also associated with overcrowding, a significant risk factor for Hib and hepatitis B, increased coverage is important.  Experts note that there is little chance of an epidemic arising from the lack of vaccination, given the large numbers of U.S. children who are vaccinated, but the risk of disease is greater among foreign-born populations.

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