title: The immunization status of Texas children aged 3 to 24 months: results of the 1994 Texas immunization survey.
abstract: Texas has no routine system to determine current immunization levels in preschoolers. To determine the current immunization status of Texas children younger than 2 years, the Texas Department of Health commissioned a household survey in 1994. The survey included 4552 in-person interviews with parents or legal guardians of children aged 3 to 24 months. Results showed a statewide up-to-date immunization level of 55%. The younger the children, the more likely they were to be up-to-date. Differences were marked among groups based on geography, race/ethnicity, and use of public assistance. Hispanic children, children enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children program, and children living in border communities had higher levels of immunizations. Immunization levels were below the statewide average for African-Americans, children on Aid to Families with Dependent Children, and children on Medicaid. Children with no health insurance and children with private insurance had equivalent immunization levels. Although progress appears to have been made in getting children immunized according to recommended schedules, much work remains to be done to reach our state and national goals and to protect our youngest from outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
authors.affiliation: Disease Control and Prevention, Texas Department of Health, Austin 78756, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suarez
mesh_terms: D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral; D012307:Risk Factors; D013781:Texas
chemical_list: D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral