Colorado's Childhood Immunization
Rate Reported for 2006
August 30, 2007—Denver—Colorado's rate for fully
immunizing the state's children, from birth to age 35
months, declined from 83.4 percent in 2005, to 80.3
percent in 2006, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and
Prevention. In a ranking of all 50 states, Colorado declined
from 16th
highest in 2005 to 30th highest in the percentage of
immunized children.
The national average on childhood immunization rates stayed
fairly
constant at 80.8 percent in 2005, compared to 80.6 percent
in 2006. Ned Calonge, chief medical officer for the
Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment, said, "This small change in
our rate is
not statistically different from last year, even though it
had a large
impact on our state ranking. Basically, our rate didn't
change, which
is an important reminder that we need to continue to enhance
our efforts
to improve immunization rates in Colorado. The more children
who are
immunized, the better they are protected from childhood
diseases and
illnesses." In 2007, Gov. Bill Ritter continued the
state's goal of immunizing at
least 80 percent of its children by the year 2010. "While we
are
pleased with the state's recent progress in immunizing
children, the new
numbers show there is continuing work to be done," said Gov.
Ritter.
"We continue to focus our efforts not just on meeting the
goal of 80
percent, but exceeding it. This isn't about a state ranking;
it's about
making sure Colorado's kids receive the medical care they
deserve." Major efforts of the Colorado Department of
Public Health and
Environment to improve childhood immunization rates include
- providing grant funding to 22 local public health agencies
for community outreach clinics to ensure that families have
access to immunizations;
- participating in the federal Vaccines for
Children program that allows the state to distribute free vaccines to local
private and public health providers for children who are eligible for Medicaid,
are uninsured or are Native American or Alaskan natives;
- expanding the state's new immunization registry so parents
can be notified when vaccinations are due;
- convening a work
group with the lieutenant governor, medical experts and public health leaders that will review current
immunization issues and strategize on approaches to improve immunization
coverage rates;
- launching a new public awareness marketing
campaign in April that focuses on expanding the number of children who receive immunizations. The "Give Your Child a Shot at Success"
campaign includes bilingual posters and information cards that were
distributed statewide.
Until last year, the annual immunization rate survey
measured the
number of children who received a series of five specific
immunizations
that help to protect them from childhood diseases. Those
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 the 2005 survey, a sixth vaccination
- for
varicella or chickenpox - was added to the series. In future
immunization surveying, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
will continue to sample for all six vaccines. The National
Immunization Survey rate for 19- to 35-month-old children
in Colorado:
| Year |
Based on the series
of five
immunizations |
Based on the series of
six
immunizations |
| 2001 |
71.5%
|
Data not collected |
| 2002 |
62.7%
|
Data not collected |
| 2003 |
67.5% |
Data not collected |
| 2004 |
77.1%
|
Data not collected |
| 2005 |
83.4%
|
78.6% |
| 2006 |
80.3% |
75.9% |
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.
Parents interested in obtaining information about
low-cost immunization
clinics should call 1-877-462-2911 or visit
www.immunizecoloradoskids.org. --30-- |
