Kansas Immunization Rates Significantly Improve in 2005
State is 12th in nation in 4:3:1:3:3 series

Kansas immunization rates have jumped to 12th in the nation from 43rd in the 4:3:1:3:3 immunization series. This means approximately 9,085 more two year olds were immunized between 2003 and 2005 in Kansas than in the previous two years.

Rates for 2005 for the 4:3:1:3:3 series (four doses of DTaP, three doses of polio vaccine, one dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, three doses of Hepatitis B, and three doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b) have increased to 83.8 percent. This marks a 6.3 percent increase, ranking Kansas at 12th in the nation up from 43rd in 2004.

According to a national report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immunization rates in Kansas have made significant improvements in 2005. The annual National Immunization Survey (NIS) shows Kansas immunization rates have gone up for the fourth consecutive year.

Immunization rates for 2005 for the 4:3:1 series (four doses of DTaP, three doses of polio vaccine, and one dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccine) have increased to 87.5 percent, an increase of 6.9 percent from 2004 data.

Immunization rates for the 4:3:1:3 series (four doses of DTaP, three doses of polio vaccine, one dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, and three doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b) have also jumped to 86.2 percent in 2005 for an increase of 6.7 percent from 2004 data.

Rates for the 4:3:1:3:3:1 series (four doses of DTaP, three doses of polio vaccine, one dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, three doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b, three doses of Hepatitis B, and one dose of varicella) went up to 72 percent for 2005. This is an increase of 6.3 percent from 2004 data and increases Kansas’ rank to 38th, up from 43rd in this series.

"One of the goals of the Healthy Kansas initiative is to promote preventative care, including immunizations. We've made a push over the past year to increase the number of children who are immunized, and it's good news more kids are going to have a healthier start on life," said Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Since 2002, KDHE has made many changes in its Immunization Program including incorporating recommendations established by the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force.

Kansas has taken the following strategic actions since 2002 aimed at increasing the state’s immunization rates:

• implemented a statewide immunization registry, a centralized database of immunization records to ensure parents and health care providers know a child’s immunization schedule and can be fully immunized;

 
• recommended an accelerated immunization schedule for DtaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) to ensure more children complete the series by allowing children to receive the fourth DtaP dose at 12 months, rather than 15-18 months;

 
• required Hepatitis B and varicella (chicken pox) vaccine for school entry starting in 2004;

 
• worked with Kansas Health Institute and Kansas Health Foundation to implement the Immunize Kansas Kids project, which will involve research to determine barriers to childhood immunizations in Kansas;

 
• expanded the Immunize and Win a Prize program statewide, to provide an incentive for parents to ensure their child is fully immunized, and to assist those families struggling with financial issues surrounding immunizations;

 
• partnered with the WIC program regarding immunization status of children in the program.

 

“Kansas has made it a priority to see that immunization rates improve, and we are extremely pleased to see the dramatic increase in rates shown in this year’s data,” said KDHE Secretary Roderick L. Bremby. “Our efforts to continue to see improved rates will not stop.”

"No child should have to suffer from devastating diseases that could be prevented through vaccination,” said Howard Rodenberg, M.D., M.P.H., director of KDHE’s Division of Health. “KDHE will continue to work on ways to assist families who are seeking vaccinations for their children.”

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