Chapter 5. Saving Lives: Immunization in the United States

Vaccine Recommendations

Most immunizations of children are recommended worldwide and have already saved a billion or more lives. Some, however, are controversial, and some nations differ from the U.S. recommendations shown here.

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

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 sick baby who suffers from a disease that could have been prevented. Infants sometimes die of these diseases—as occurred in California during a 2014 outbreak of pertussis (also known as whooping cough). Yet, the overall U.S. rate of full immunization is only about 72.2 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—from 64 percent in Virginia to 81 percent in Connecticut—suggests that local context influences the behavior of doctors and parents. Click on each state to see how many children ages 19–35 months have received a combined vaccine series.*

Percent of children ages 19–35 months who have received a combined vaccine series*

Saving Lives: Immunization in the United States

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