Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
How Many Americans Are Actually Vaccinated?
MMWR Surveill Summ; 2017 Oct 27; Pazol, et al
Statistics from 3 national databases provide insights on how the public uses vaccination programs and other preventive services. The data, collected from 2011 to 2013, can help clinicians, public health officials and researchers gauge the value and limitations of said services. Among the details:
- The 3 surveillance systems used in the analysis included the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
- The final report indicated that many preventive services recommended by CDC and US Office of Population Affairs were not received by women of reproductive age:
- 31.7% of women received the influenza vaccine in the previous year.
- Vaccination for hepatitis B and HPV was highest among women in the highest family income category, i.e. those whose income was more than 400% above of federal poverty level and for women with insurance coverage for these services.
Citation:
Pazol K, Robbins CL, Black L, et al. Receipt of selected preventive health services for women and men of reproductive age—United States, 2011-2013. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2017;66:1-31. doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss6620a1.
Data from 3 different national databases provide a snapshot of the percentage of young women and men of reproductive age who are receiving a set of key preventive health services recommended for Quality Family Planning (QFP). Focusing on the immunization data, it is not surprising that the vaccine coverage rates for recommended vaccines is low in this mostly healthy population. The data also confirm that a higher income and possession of insurance is associated with higher vaccine rates. Lack of insurance and even discontinuous insurance coverage is associated with decreased vaccine rates. Another reason to improve the health insurance system.
-Sarah Rawstron, MB, BS, FAAP, FIDSA
Pediatric Residency Program Director, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, NY
Clinical Associate Professor, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, NY