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"Although our immunization rates have been skyrocketing, we can't afford to let our guard down," said Dr. Maxine Hayes, assistant secretary of community and family health at Department of Health. "A child's immunizations status should be reviewed at every health care visit."
In Washington, 79 percent of children have been fully immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, mumps, measles, rubella and Hib disease. The state's goal is to have 90 percent of all 2- year-old children fully immunized by the year 2000.
"Typically, infants and toddlers are the hardest population to reach for immunizations because many parents believe they can play catch up when their children enter school," Dr. Hayes said. "They don't realize they are putting their children at risk for serious, sometimes deadly, diseases by waiting."
The increase in hepatitis B immunization rates is due to a combination of factors: extensive outreach to local health care providers and hospitals; public awareness campaigns, such as "Learn What's Due by Age 2," that educate parents about the need for timely immunizations; the efforts of the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington; and the fact that the state provides free vaccine to local health departments.
Local health jurisdictions in turn provide free vaccine to individual health care providers. Most providers and health departments charge a small administration fee for each shot.
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