OCR Text |
Show Immunizations Schools are required to report the immunization status of all enrolled children to the Utah Department of Health1. This information is then compiled into an estimate of the proportion of kindergarten-age children who are immunized. Although these figures have remained in the 90% range, they have shown a slight decrease since 1982. The data for kindergarten immunizations were obtained from a survey of public, private, and parochial schools, as well as licensed health care centers and Head Start programs. Another survey of immunization levels is conducted for two year olds. Since 1990, to be considered adequately immunized at two years of age 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. Starting in July 1992, children younger than five years old were required to receive adequate immunization for Haemophilus Influenza Type B. Hepatitis B shots are currently being recommended for newborns. Several changes have been made in the Utah survey techniques over the past several and in the number of doses of DTP required in order for a child to be considered adequately immunized. This limits the extent to which meaningful comparisons can be made among 1994 and 1995 data, 1991 to 1993 data, and earlier data. As more women move into the workplace, an increased number of children attend preschool and day care facilities. This increases the importance of adequately immunizing two-year-old children. Although the percentage of two year olds adequately immunized has greatly increased since 1991, it still falls dramatically short of the national goal of 90% by the year 2000. Table 93. Utah Kindergarten Children Immunizations Year % 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 93.3 1990 92.1 1991 93.0 1992 93.9 1993 93.5 1994 95.1 1995 95.0 1996 95.1 1997 95.0 Table 94. Utah Children Immunized at 24 Months of Age Year % Immunized 1984 59.2 1987 59.6 1991 36.5 1992 41.3 1993 46.5 1994 70.0 1995 72.0 1996 64.0 1997 69.0 Tables 93 and 94. Source: Utah Department of Health, Division of Community and Family Health Services, Immunization Program, February 1998. 'Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology (1992, March). Epidemiology Newsletter. Salt Lake City: Author, p. 1. :Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology (1990, Oct.). Communicable Disease Newsletter. Salt Lake City: Author, p. 1. 129 |