Influenza vaccination coverage of children aged 6 to 23 months: the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 influenza seasons.
BACKGROUND
Beginning in 2002 the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices encouraged, when feasible, annual influenza vaccination of all children aged 6 to 23 months and household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children < 2 years of age.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to report influenza vaccination coverage for the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 influenza seasons among children aged 6 to 23 months according to demographic and immunization-provider characteristics.


METHODS
Data from the 2003 and 2004 National Immunization Survey were analyzed. Two measures of childhood influenza vaccination are reported: receipt of > or = 1 influenza vaccination and full vaccination (ie, receipt of the appropriate number of doses on the basis of previous vaccination history). chi2 tests and logistic-regression analyses to test for associations between influenza vaccination status and demographic characteristics were performed.


RESULTS
In the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 influenza seasons only 7.4% and 17.5%, respectively, of children aged 6 to 23 months received > or = 1 influenza vaccination, whereas only 4.4% and 8.4%, respectively, were fully vaccinated. In both seasons, adjusted influenza vaccination coverage was significantly lower among children living below the poverty level; non-Hispanic black children; older children; children with less-educated mothers; children vaccinated only at public clinics; and children not residing in a metropolitan statistical area.


CONCLUSIONS
During the first 2 years of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' encouragement for children aged 6 to 23 months to receive influenza vaccination, coverage was low, with significant demographic differences in receipt of vaccination. Beginning with the 2004-2005 influenza season, they replaced the encouragement with a recommendation that children aged 6 to 23 months receive annual influenza vaccination. Substantial work remains to fully and equitably implement this new recommendation and ensure vaccination with 2 doses for previously unvaccinated children.
Santibanez
Tammy A
TA
National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. afz5@cdc.gov
Santoli
Jeanne M
JM
Bridges
Carolyn B
CB
Euler
Gary L
GL
D000367:Age Factors; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012621:Seasons; D014481:United States
D007252:Influenza Vaccines