Childhood Immunization
  
Location20052006200720082009
Montgomery80.785.083.091.085.0

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This Indicator tracks the proportion of 24 – 35 month old children attending Health District clinics who are up-to-date with their immunizations. For 2008 and earlier that meant they had received at least 4 doses of Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis vaccine, 3 doses of Polio vaccine, 1 dose of Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine, 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine, and 3 doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine. In 2009 the criteria were updated to include 1 dose of Varicella vaccine. Because not all providers participate in a registry, it is difficult to assess the true up-to-date rate of children in a geographic area. “The benefits of universal immunization have been demonstrated by the eradication of debilitating diseases. Routine immunization has eradicated smallpox from the planet, nearly eliminated the polio virus worldwide, and dramatically reduced the occurrence of other preventable infectious diseases including measles, pertussis and rubella. In fact, vaccines have safely and effectively prevented more disease and death than any other medical intervention or treatment, including antibibiotics. In the absence of widespread vaccination, epidemics of vaccine-preventable diseases would return. Millions of lives would be lost. Children would suffer needlessly, the incidences of infant and childhood deaths would rise dramatically, and we would reverse the tremendous progress already made in protecting children and communities from disabling and deadly diseases. Vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective in preventing the transmission of serious infectious diseases. Routine immunization is the most effective way to protect children from harmful but preventable diseases, and to thwart the reemergence of the deadly disease outbreaks of the past.” (From a joint statement issued on April 6, 2000 by nine national nonprofit organizations that are deeply involved in immunization education.)
 
 

Montgomery

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