% of children 8 months of age in the Immunization Registry who aren’t up-to-date on all CDC recommended immunizations, whose parents are sent a reminder/recall letter.
Current Value
4%
Definition
Story Behind the Curve
Last Updated: January 2015
Author: Immunization Program, Vermont Department of Health
Immunization rates for Vermont toddlers (19-35 months) are below state and national goals. Results from the CDC's 2013 National Immunization Survey (NIS) show that 67% of children under three years of age in Vermont received the full series of recommended vaccines. The Healthy People 2020 goal for the series is 80%.
Partners
CDC, Primary care providers and their respective Vermont associations (American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians), Vermont Child Health Improvement Program, UVM College of Medicine, and health insurers.
What Works
The CDC Community Preventative Services Task Force recommends reminder and recall interventions based on strong evidence of effectiveness in improving vaccination coverage. Parental education is important.Initiatives to address vaccine hesitancy, including Vermont's “It's OK to Ask" (www.oktoaskvt.org) campaign provide education and information to parents where they are seeking information (internet, social media).
Universal access to vaccines at no cost to providers ensures vaccine availability and reduces fiscal risk for providers.
Action Plan
The Immunization Program has a number of initiatives to support childhood vaccination. In the past year, major projects included:
·Launch of the “It's OK to Ask" social media campaign, to provide a reliable information resource for parents of young children who have questions about immunizations.
·Site visits to over 90% of enrolled practices to ensure full compliance with CDC program requirements.
·Mailing of recall-reminder letters to parents of children 8 and 20 months of age who aren't up-to-date on immunizations to ensure timely vaccination