THURSDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Overall vaccination rates in children are high and have remained stable or have increased since 2009, though disparities persist among the economically underprivileged, according to a report published in the Sept. 2 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Carla L. Black, Ph.D., of the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues reported the results of the National Immunization Survey, a random telephone-based survey of U.S. households, to evaluate the status of immunization programs for children born between January 2007 and July 2009.
The researchers found that national vaccination coverage increased from 2009 to 2010 for measles, mumps, rubella, and several other diseases, and remained at the national health objective targets of 90 percent for poliovirus, three or more doses of hepatitis B, and varicella. Fewer than 1 percent of children had not received any vaccinations, but poverty-based disparities were observed.
"Maintaining high vaccination coverage levels is important to reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases and prevent a resurgence of these diseases in the United States, particularly in under-vaccinated populations," the authors write.
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