Vaccine-preventable disease among homeschooled children: two cases of tetanus in Oklahoma.
Homeschooled children represent an increasing proportion of school-aged children in the United States. Immunization rates among homeschooled children are largely unknown because they are usually not subject to state-based school-entry vaccination requirements. Geographic foci of underimmunized children can increase the risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. In 2012, 2 cases of tetanus were reported in Oklahoma; both cases involved homeschooled children without documentation of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccination. We describe the characteristics of both patients and outline innovative outreach measures with the potential to increase vaccination access and coverage among homeschooled children.
LCDR USPHS, Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 NE 10th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1299. vil0@cdc.gov.
Matthew G
MG
Johnson
Kristy K
KK
Bradley
Susan
S
Mendus
Laurence
L
Burnsed
Rachel
R
Clinton
Tejpratap
T
Tiwari
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines; D004505:Education, Nonprofessional / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009825:Oklahoma; D013742:Tetanus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination
D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines
Oklahoma; prevention and control; schools; tetanus; vaccines