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Date: Thursday, Feb. 27, 1997
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: CDC Press Office(404) 639-3286

The survey data show that the nation exceeded interim immunization goals for 1995, and for most vaccines, goals for 1996 were already being achieved a year early. In addition, the number of reported cases of diphtheria, mumps, tetanus, measles, rubella, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b, once the most common cause of meningitis in young children, continue to be at or near record-low levels.

"We have a firm national commitment to increase the number of American children who are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, and we are meeting our interim goals," said Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala. "Now we must keep working to finish the job and achieve the high levels of full immunization that we have set for the year 2000."

The 1995 goals were 87 percent for DTP, 85 percent for Hib, 90 percent for MMR, 85 percent for polio and 50 percent for hep B. The survey data released today show that in 1995:

• 95 percent of children 19 to 35 months of age had received three doses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTP) vaccine;
• 92 percent had received three doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (Hib);
• 90 percent had received the required dose of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR);
• 88 percent had received three doses of polio vaccine; and
• 68 percent received three doses of hepatitis B vaccine (hep B). The hepatitis B vaccination data show a 17 percentage increase in vaccination since the last reporting period, July 1994 to June 1995.

The 1996 immunization goals are 90 percent for DTP, polio, MMR, and Hib, and 70 percent for hepatitus B.

Although interim immunization goals have been met, the NIS data estimates that more than one million children in the United States have not been fully vaccinated with the most critical vaccines. According to the CDC report, 76 percent of two-year olds received all doses of the most critical immunizations in 1995. That percentage remains a record-high, up from 75 percent in 1994. The national goal for the year 2000 is immunization of at least 90 percent of all 2-year-olds with all recommended vaccinations.

In addition, the NIS data showed considerable variation between states and urban areas indicating children are not equally well protected in all parts of the United States. Twenty-eight states met either all of the 1995 immunization coverage goals, or all of the goals except hepatitis B.

"Vaccines work B they are superb, cost-effective tools to prevent disease. However, there is still work to be done to ensure every child in this country gets an equal chance at a healthy life," said CDC Director David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D. "While no single factor accounts for under-immunization, achieving and sustaining high coverage clearly requires coordinated and comprehensive action by health-care providers, parents and communities."

The administration's Childhood Immunization Initiative includes five strategies: improving immunization services for needy families, especially in public health clinics; reducing vaccine costs for lower-income and uninsured families, especially for vaccines provided in private physicians' offices; building community networks to reach out to families and ensure that young children are vaccinated as needed; improving systems for monitoring diseases and vaccinations; and improving vaccines and vaccine use.