Overall vaccination coverage among young children remained high and stable in the United States in 2017. Coverage was lower for most vaccines among uninsured and Medicaid-insured children and among children living outside of MSAs. These disparities were larger for vaccines that require a booster dose in the second year of life (e.g., DTaP, Hib, and PCV). Although the number of children who have received no vaccinations by age 24 months has been gradually increasing, most children are still routinely vaccinated.

Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 19-35 Months—United States, 2017, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6740a4.htm

Immunize AR, Arkansas Children’s Natural Wonders Partnership Council, and the Childhood Immunization Workgroup members. The Blue & You Foundation has provided key funding for the establishment and operation of Immunize AR.

A study of potentially achievable coverage estimated that 90% coverage would have been attained many years ago for the recommended number of doses of DTaP, PCV, and Hib for children aged 19–35 months if missed opportunities for administration of the final doses of these vaccines had been eliminated.

 Vaccination coverage among young children could be improved through higher participation by both children and providers in the Vaccines for Children program. Consistent access to health insurance is another important element of the immunization safety net. Barriers to participation in the VFC program should be identified and eliminated so that all eligible children have the opportunity to access recommended vaccines. A number of evidence-based strategies have also been described that could enhance these efforts to increase vaccination coverage, such as notifying parents when children are due for a vaccination, establishing standing orders or policies that allow nonphysician personnel to administer vaccines, and enhancing computerized immunization information systems for tracking vaccinations (https://www.thecommunityguide.org/topic/vaccinationExternal).

Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 19-35 Months—United States, 2017, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6740a4.htm

Strategy 1: Implement evidence-based health systems strategies to improve childhood and adolescent immunication rates.

Strategy 2: Promote compliance with immunization requirements for attendance at daycare, schools and college.

Strategy 3: Improve parents' knowledge and confidence in the benefits and safety of immunizations.

Strategy 4: Increase the number and percentage of providers offering immunizations to children and adolescents.

Strategy 5: Provide education on childhood and adolescent immunizations to students in health professional schools.

Strategy 6: Provide continuing education on childhood and adolescent immunizations to health professionals.

Strategy 7: Improve provider adherence to ACIP recommendations for childhood and adolescent immunizations.

Immunize AR’s website: https://www.immunizear.org/.

Arkansas Children’s Natural Wonders Partnership Council’s webpage:  https://www.archildrens.org/news/natural-wonders.