Children getting vaccinated, adolescents are not

The childhood vaccination rates are at an all-time high, according to a report of 2006 immunization rates recently released by CDC. The results of the agency's annual National Immunization Survey (NIS) showed that 77% of children 19 to 35 months of age had received the recommended series of childhood vaccine. Last year's rate was 76.1%. However, significant differences existed in state and local areas. The percentage of children receiving all their vaccines in Massachusetts was 83.6%, while in Nevada it was only 59.5%. Locally, series coverage ranged from 81.4% in Boston to 65.2% in Detroit. For the first time, the NIS survey included estimates of adolescents who had received the recommended vaccines for their age group. According to CDC, the Healthy People 2010 goals for adolescents between 13 and 15 years old are not being met for any vaccine. The Healthy People 2010 goals for this age group includes 90% coverage with three doses of hepatitis B vaccine, two doses of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), one dose of either tetanus/diphtheria or tetanus/diphtheria/acellular pertussis, and one dose of varicella vaccine for patients who have not had chickenpox. More information can be accessed at