Colorado’s Childhood Immunization Rate
Reaches Highest Level in Decade
September 14, 2006, DENVER — Colorado’s rate for fully
immunizing the state’s children, from birth to age 35
months, increased to 83.4 percent in 2005, the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention announced today. In a
ranking of all 50 states, Colorado has moved from 44th place
in 2004 to 16th highest in 2005 in the percentage of
immunized children.
In 2004, the state identified a goal of immunizing at least
80 percent of its children by the year 2010. “When the 2004
child immunization rates were announced, it was clear that
we weren’t doing a good enough job of protecting our
children,” said Governor Bill Owens. “Over the past year,
we’ve focused our efforts on not just meeting, but exceeding
the goal of 80 percent. This isn’t about a state ranking,
it’s about making sure Colorado’s kids receive the medical
care they deserve.”
Dennis Ellis, executive director of the Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment, said the new rate, which
compares to the average national rate of 80.8 percent, is
good news for the health of Colorado’s children. “The more
children who are immunized, the better they are protected
from childhood diseases and illnesses,” said Ellis. “While
the improved ranking is great, the real story is about
protecting more children through immunizations. We need to
continue to focus on having the state’s children fully
immunized.”
Until this year, the survey measured the number of children
who received five specific immunizations that help to
protect them from childhood diseases. These five
vaccinations are for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis or
whooping cough (DTaP); haemophilus influenzae type b;
hepatitis B; measles, mumps and rubella; and polio. In this
year’s survey, a sixth vaccination – for varicella or
chickenpox – was added.
With the addition of varicella to the vaccine series,
Colorado’s immunization rate for 2005 is 78.6 percent,
compared to the national rate of 76.1 percent. Going
forward, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will
continue to sample for all six vaccines.
The 2005 survey also compared for the first time the results
for 27 urban areas including Denver and the counties of
Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas. In that comparison, Denver
ranked fifth highest with an immunization rate of 83.8
percent on the five-vaccine sample. When the sixth vaccine
for varicella is added, the percent of children immunized is
78.8 percent.
Major steps that are believed to have resulted in the
improved 2005 immunization rate, include:
* In early 2004, $500,000 one-time federal funds were
directed to the state’s local health departments and county
public health nursing services for improving their
infrastructure and for administering and tracking
immunizations.
* In January of 2004, approximately $388,000 in federal
grants was redirected to provide immunization program
enhancements at 15 local health departments across Colorado.
* Beginning in fiscal year 2004-2005, nearly $350,000,
received by the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment from the state general fund, was awarded in the
form of new competitive grants to 22 Colorado local health
departments and county public health nursing services that
proposed new, unique approaches for conducting immunization
clinics. The goal of these outreach clinics was to reach
children not fully immunized.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
continues to focus on expanding the number of children who
receive immunizations. Although not a factor in the 2005
survey rankings already compiled, an immunization marketing
campaign was launched in July 2005, “Immunize Colorado’s
Kids: Protect the Ones You Love,” to spread the word about
the importance of childhood immunizations. The campaign
featured bilingual posters and information cards, which were
distributed statewide.
For Colorado, the National Immunization Survey rate for 19-
to 35-month-old children by year was:
§ 2000 – 71.6%
§ 2001 – 71.5%
§ 2002 – 62.7%
§ 2003 – 67.5%
§ 2004 – 77.1%
§ 2005 – 83.4%
The Colorado Immunization Program, based at the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment, promotes and
facilitates the prevention of these vaccine-preventable
diseases in Colorado through investigation, education,
increasing and maintaining vaccine coverage, and ensuring
access to immunization services for Coloradans of all ages.
Parents may choose not to have their children immunized for
philosophical, medical or religious reasons.
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