Chapter 5. Saving Lives: Immunization in the United States

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You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.

Welcome

Saving Lives: Immunization in the United States

This activity examines the different types of vaccines recommended for children, as well as the rates at which U.S. children are immunized.

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A young nurse administering an injection to a young boy.
Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock

5.1 Saving Lives: Immunization in the United States

Vaccine Recommendations

Immunizations have saved over a billion lives. Most are recommended for children worldwide, although some are considered controversial for various reasons. Some nations’ recommendations differ from the U.S. recommendations shown in the diagram below.

Click on the vaccine names to view each disease's characteristics.

A spreadsheet that shows data on how many children in the United States between ages 19–35 months have received a combined vaccine series. The first column indicates states in the United States and the second column indicates immunization data for that state.

5.2 Saving Lives: Immunization in the United States

Immunization in the United States

Virtually all public health doctors and pediatricians agree that babies need to be up-to-date on immunization, partly because every doctor has tended a baby who was sickened by a preventable disease. Infants sometimes die of these diseases—as occurred in 31 states during a 2019 outbreak of measles. Yet, the overall U.S. rate of full immunization among 19- to 35-month-olds is only about 70 percent, which means that almost one baby in every three is unprotected. The U.S. rate is lower than in several European nations, and the range that you see in the map below suggests that local context influences the behavior of doctors and parents.

CLICK ON EACH STATE TO SEE HOW MANY 24 MONTH-OLDS HAVE RECEIVED A COMBINED 7-VACCINE SERIES.*

*The combined 7-vaccine series (4:3:1:3*:3:1:4) includes ≥4 doses of DTaP, ≥3 doses of poliovirus vaccine, ≥1 dose of measles-containing vaccine, the full series of Hib (≥3 or ≥4 doses, depending on product type), ≥3 doses of HepB, ≥1 dose of VAR, and ≥4 doses of PCV.

Hill et al., 2020

5.3 Saving Lives: Immunization in the United States

Saving Lives: Immunization in the United States

A young nurse administering an injection to a young boy.
Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock

Question 5.1 Immunization Rates

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Your answer should address variations in level of education, income, political climate, cultural values, immigration status, and any other factors that might be relevant.

Question 5.2 Infant immunization

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Your answer should address the different priorities and experiences of doctors and parents.

5.4 Activity Completed!

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REFERENCES

Hill, H. A., Yankey, D., Elam-Evans, L. D., Singleton, J. A., Pingali, S. C., & Santibanez, T. A. (2020). Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2016 and 2017 - National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2017-2019. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 69(42), 1505–1511. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6942a1