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Show Utah Immunizations Utah Public and Private Kindergarten Immunization Survey Data Table 70 Year Percentage Immunized 1978 94.0 1979 94.6 1980 96.9 1981 96.9 1982 96.9 1983 93.4 1984 95.1 1985 94.3 1986 93.8 1987 93.0 1988 92.4 1989 933 1990 93.1 1991 92.1 1992 93.0 Utah Percentage of Children Immunized at 24 Months of Age Table 71 Source: Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology. The Utah Grant Publication. Salt Lake City: Author, p. 33. These data were obtained from public, private, and parochial school kindergarten survey information (Table 70). Schools are required to report immunization status to the Utah Department of Health.1 This information is then compiled into an estimate of the proportion of children who are immunized. Although these figures have remained in the 90% range, they have shown a slight decrease since 1982. Required immunizations include diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, and polio. Starting in July 1992 children younger than five years old were required to receive adequate immunization for Haemophilus Influenza Type B.1 Hepatitis B shots are currently being recommended for newborns. An increased number of children attend preschool and day care facilities, as more women move into the work place. This underscores the importance of assessing the adequacy of immunizations for two-year olds as well as kindergarten-age children. Year Percentage Immunized 1984 59.2 1987 59.6 1991 36.5 1992 41.3 Source: 1984-1991 - Utah Department of Health, Division of Family Health Services. (1992). Utah's Families. Salt Lake City: Author, p.27. 1992 - Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology. (1992, Aug.). Epidemiology Newsletter. Salt Lake Gty: Author. To be considered adequately immunized at two years of age, starting in 1990 a child's immunization record must show four doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP); three doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV); and one dose of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR).2 The percentage of children adequately immunized at 24 months of age dropped from 1984 and 1987 levels of nearly 60% to a 1991 level of 36.5%, a decrease of nearly 23% (Table 71). Starting in 1990, several changes were made in the survey techniques employed and in the number of doses of DTP required to be considered adequately immunized. This limits the extent to which meaningful comparisons can be made between 1991 and 1992 data and the earlier years. Regardless of these trends, it is crucial to note that in 1991 only 36.5% of children at two years of age were adequately immunized. This increased slightly in 1992, but is still very low.3 Perhaps this is why some communicable diseases once thought to be controlled are now making a comeback. Comparable data on the national level are not available. Methods of assessment varied between the nation and Utah in the early 1980s, and national data are not available for 1986 through 1990. National data are currently being collected for 1991. * Source: Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology. (1992, March). Epidemiology Newsletter. Salt Lake City: Author, p. 1. ^Source: Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology. (1990, Oct.). Communicable Disease Newsletter. Salt Lake City: Author, p. 1, ¦'Source: Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology. (1992, Aug.). Epidemiology Newsletter. Salt Lake City: Author. Utah's Health: An Annual Review 1993 59 |
