Childhood Immunization Status

Percentage of children 2 years of age who had four diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP); three polio (IPV), one measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); three H influenza type B (HiB); three hepatitis B (Hep B); one chicken pox (VZV); four pneumococcal conjugate (PCV); one hepatitis A (Hep A); two or three rotavirus (RV); and two influenza (flu) vaccines by their second birthday.

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Infants and toddlers are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases because their immune systems have not built up the necessary defenses to fight infection (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2011). Most childhood vaccines are between 90 and 99 percent effective in preventing diseases (HealthyChildren 2011). Immunization is a critical aspect of preventive care for children. Lack of proper immunization leads to an increase in illness, doctor visits and hospitalizations, all of which translate into higher costs. (Tatzlandrew, Brown, and Halpern). Vaccination of each U.S. birth cohort with the current childhood immunization schedule prevents approximately 42,000 deaths and 20 million cases of disease, and saves nearly $14 billion in direct costs and $69 billion in societal costs each year (Zhou 2011; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2011b). 

Immunizing a child not only protects that child's health but also the health of the community, especially for those who are not immunized or are unable to be immunized due to other health complications (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2009). When the majority of the community is immunized against a disease, other members of the community are also protected because herd immunity shields them. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 2010).

Summary of Recommendations for Child/Teen Immunization (Ages birth through 18 years) (Immunization Action Coalition) based on recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP, 2012)

Hepatitis B (HepB)
- Vaccinate all children age 0 through 18 years
- Vaccinate all newborns with monovalent vaccine prior to hospital discharge. Give dose #2 at age 1-2 months and the final dose at age 6-18 months (the last dose in the infant series should not be given earlier than age 24 weeks). After the birth dose, the series may be completed using 2 doses of single-antigen vaccine or up to 3 doses of Comvax(r) (ages 2 months, 4 months 12-15 months) or Pediatrix(r) (ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months), which may result in giving a total of 4 doses of hepatitis B vaccine.
- If mother is HBsAg-positive: give the newborn HBIG + dose #1 within 12 hours of birth; complete series at age 6 months or, if using Comvax(r), at age 12-15 months. 
- If mother is HBsAg status is unknown: given the newborn dose #1 within 12 hours of birth. If low birth weight (less than 2000 grams), also give HBIG within 12 hours. For infants weighing 2000 grams or more whose mother is subsequently found to be HBsAg positive, give the infant HBIG ASAP (no later than 7 days of birth) and follow HepB immunization schedule for infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers.

DTaP, DT vaccinations (4 Diptheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis)
- Give to children at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months, 4-6 years.- May give dose #1 as early as age 6 weeks. 
- May give #4 as early as age 12 months if 6 months have elapsed since #3. 
- Do not give DTaP/DT to children age 7 years and older. 
- If possible, use the same DTaP product for all doses. 

Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
- ActHib(r) (PRP-T): give at age 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12-15 months (booster dose). 
- PedvaxHIB(r) or Comvax(r) (containing PRP-OMP): give at age 2 months, 4 months, 12-15 months (booster dose). 
- Dose #1 of Hib vaccine should not be given earlier than age 6 weeks. 
- Give final dose (booster dose) no earlier than age 12 months and a minimum of 8 weeks after the previous dose. 
- Hib vaccines are interchangeable; however, if different brands of Hib vaccines are administered for dose #1 and dose #2, a total of 3 doses is necessary to complete the primary series in infants. 
- Any Hib vaccine may be used for the booster dose. 
- Hib is not routinely given to children age 5 years and older. 
- Hiberix(r) is approved ONLY for the booster dose at age 12 months through 4 years.

Polio (IPV) 
- Give to children at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, 4-6 years.
- May give dose #1 as early as age 6 weeks.
- Not routinely recommended for U.S. residents age 18 years and older (except certain travelers).

MMR (Measles, mumps, rubella)
- Give dose #1 at age 12-15 months. 
- Give MMR at age 6 through 11 months if traveling internationally; then revaccinate at age 12 months (and at least 4 weeks from previous dose). The dose given at younger than 12 months does not count toward the 2-dose series. 
- Give dose #2 at age 4-6 years. Dose #2 may be given earlier if at least 4 weeks since dose #1. For MMRV: dose #2 may be given earlier if at least 3 months since dose #1. 
- Give a 2nd dose to all older children and teens with history of only 1 dose. 

MMRV may be used in children age 12 months through 12 years. For the first dose of MMR and varicella given at age 12-47 months, either MMR and Varicella (Var) or MMRV may be used. Unless the parent or caregiver expresses a preference for MMRV, CDC recommends that MMR and Var should be given for the first dose in this age group.

Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13)
- Give at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12-15 months.
- Dose #1 may be given as early as age 6 weeks. 
- When children are behind on PCV schedule, minimum interval for doses given to children younger than age 12 months is 4 weeks; for doses given at 12 months and older, it is 8 weeks. 
- Give 1 dose to unvaccinated healthy children age 24-59 months. 
- For high-risk children ages 24-71 months: give 2 doses at least 8 weeks apart if they previously received fewer than 3 doses; give 1 dose at least 8 weeks after the most recent dose if they previously received 3 doses. (High risk: those with sickle cell disease; anatomic or functional asplenia; chronic cardiac, pulmonary, or renal disease; diabetes; cerebrospinal fluid leaks; HIV infection; immunosuppression; diseases associated with immunosuppressive and/or radiation therapy; or who have or will have a cochlear implant.)
- PCV13 is not routinely given to healthy children age 5 years and older. 

Varicella (Var) (Chickenpox) 
- Give dose #1 at age 12-15 months.
- Give dose #2 at age 4-6 years. Dose #2 of Var or MMRV may be given earlier if at least 3 months since dose #1. 
- Give a 2nd dose to all older children/teens with history of only 1 dose. 
- MMRV may be used in children age 12 months through 12 years. For the first dose of MMR and varicella given at age 12-47 months, either MMR and Var or MMRV may be used. Unless the parent or caregiver expresses a preference for MMRV, CDC recommends that MMR and Var should be given for the first dose in this age group. 

Hepatitis A (HepA)
- Give 2 doses spaced 6 to 18 months apart to all children at age 1 year (12-23 months). 

Rotavirus (RV) 
- Rotarix(r) (RV1): give at age 2 months, 4 months.
- RotaTeq(r) (RV5): give at age 2 months, 4 months, 6 months. 
- May give dose #1 as early as age 6 weeks. 
- Give final dose no later than age 8 months 0 days.

Influenza (trivalent inactivated influenza (TIV), live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV)) 
- Vaccinate all children and teens age 6 months through 18 years. 
- LAIV may be given to healthy, non-pregnant people age 2-49 years.
- Give 2 doses, spaced 4 weeks apart, to children age 6 months through 8 years who 1) are first-time vaccines or 2) failed to receive at least 1 dose of the 2010-2011 vaccine. 
- For TIV, give 0.25 mL dose to children age 6-35 months and 0.5 mL dose if age 3 years and older. 
- If LAIV and either MMR, Var, and/or yellow fever vaccine are not given on the same day, space them at least 28 days apart.

Technical content reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 2012.

Higher score equals better quality.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011a. "Vaccines & Immunizations: Infants and Toddlers." http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/infants-toddlers.htm 

HealthyChildren. 2011. "Safety & Prevention: Why Immunize Your Child." http://www.healthychildren.org/english/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Why-Immunize-Your-Child.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token 

Tatzlandrew, E.J., R.E. Brown, and M.T. Halpern. 1994. "A cost-benefit analysis of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine." Arlington: Batelle Medical Technology Assessment and Policy Research Program.

Zhou, F. 2011. "Updated economic evaluation of the routine childhood immunization schedule in the United States." Presented at the 45th National Immunization Conference. Washington, DC; March 28-31.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011b. "Ten Great Public Health Achievements --- United States, 2001-2010." MMWR 60(19):619-623.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2009. "Vaccines & Immunizations: How Vaccines Prevent Disease." http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/howvpd.htm 

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 2010. "Community Immunity ("Herd" Immunity)." http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/pages/communityimmunity.aspx 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2012. "Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 0 Through 6 years - United States, 2012." MMWR 61(05):1-4.

Immunization Action Coalition. 2012. "Summary of Recommendations for Child/Teen Immunization (Ages birth through 18 years)." http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2010.pdf 

Recommended vaccines: Vaccines and the schedule of vaccines as recommended by the Advisory Committee in Immunization Practices (ACIP) for children two years of age. The measure may differ slightly from the ACIP recommendations because the measure focuses on immunizations that are appropriate by age 2. Also, there may be small differences when there are shortages for a particular vaccine.

For the MMR, hepatitis B, VZV and hepatitis A vaccines, numerator inclusion criteria include: evidence of receipt of the recommended vaccine; documented history of the illness; or, a seropositive test result for the antigen. For the DTaP, IPV, HiB, pneumococcal conjugate, rotavirus, and influenza vaccines, numerator inclusion criteria include only evidence of receipt of the recommended vaccine. Patients may be excepted from a particular antigen if they had an anaphylactic reaction to the vaccine. Patients may be excepted from the DTaP vaccine if they have encephalopathy. Patients may be excepted from the IPV vaccine if they have had an anaphylactic reaction to streptomycin, polymyxin B, or neomycin. Patients may be excepted from the influenza vaccines if they have cancer of lymphoreticular or histiocytic tissue, multiple myeloma, leukemia, or have had an anaphylactic reaction to neomycin. Patients may be excepted from the MMR or VZV vaccines if they have cancer of lymphoreticular or histiocytic tissue, multiple myeloma, leukemia, or have had an anaphylactic reaction to neomycin. Patients may be excepted from the hepatitis B vaccine if they have had an anaphylactic reaction to common baker's yeast.

The measure allows a grace period by measuring compliance with these recommendations between birth and age two.

TBD

Children who turn 2 years of age during the measurement period and who have a visit during the measurement period

Equals Initial Population

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Children who have evidence showing they received recommended vaccines, had documented history of the illness, had a seropositive test result, or had an allergic reaction to the vaccine by their second birthday

Not Applicable

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Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

For every patient evaluated by this measure also identify payer, race, ethnicity and sex.

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