Immunization Strategies and Resources for Health Care Professionals from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
The AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases has compiled a comprehensive list of resources on strategies to improve immunization rates. This news and resource page is updated frequently. AAP membership or subscriber login may be required to access some links.
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Immunization News |
- Low rates of routine immunizations
- Vaccination rates dropped globally during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an estimated 25 million children missing their childhood immunizations worldwide: As Child and Adolescent Immunization Rates Hit Historic Lows Due to Pandemic, AAP Urges Parents to Check on their Child’s Immunizations and to Vaccinate Against COVID (News Release | AAP)
- Falling immunization rates means that we could see more preventable disease outbreaks, as more people begin traveling once again.
- Catch-up Immunization Schedule for Children, Birth-18 Years | CDC
- Whooping cough vaccination during pregnancy benefits US infants
- CDC scientists tracked reports of 57,460 infant whooping cough cases between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2019, and found Tdap vaccination during pregnancy helps protect newborns from whooping cough during their first two months of life, when they are most vulnerable to the disease.
- Polio outbreak
- Case of paralytic polio caused by vaccine derived poliovirus type 2 in unvaccinated resident in New York, July 2022
- Poliovirus found in samples from 5 New York counties: https://health.ny.gov/press/releases/2022/2022-09-09_polio_immunization.htm
- Incompletely vaccinated persons at risk
- Polio vaccination rates in affected counties low (58-62%; state average 79%): https://health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/polio/county_vaccination_rates.htm
- US polio vaccination rate: 92.5%
- Measles cases on the rise
- During January–September 2019, 1,249 U.S. measles cases were reported, the highest annual number since 1992. National Update on Measles Cases and Outbreaks — United States, January 1–October 1, 2019 | MMWR | CDC
- As of December 15, 2022, a total of 106 measles cases were reported by 5 jurisdictions in 2022.
Source: Measles Cases and Outbreaks | CDC
Immunization Rates in the United States |
Interactive map of immunizations by state: https://downloads.aap.org/AAP/Vaccine/index.html
|
Percent of children vaccinated by age 24 months: |
|
|
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (4+ doses DTP, DT, or DTaP) |
81.9% |
|
Polio (3+ doses) |
93.4% |
|
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) (1+ doses) |
91.6% |
|
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (primary series + booster dose) |
80.0% |
|
Hepatitis B (Hep B) (3+ doses) |
92.7% |
|
Chickenpox (Varicella) (1+ doses) |
91.1% |
|
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) (4+ doses) |
83.5% |
|
Combined 7-vaccine series |
70.1% |
|
Percent of children vaccinated among kindergarteners: |
|
|
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (4+ doses DTP, DT, or DTaP) |
93.1% |
|
Polio (3+ doses) |
93.5% |
|
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) (2 doses) |
93.5% |
|
Chickenpox (Varicella) (1+ doses) |
92.8% |
|
Hepatitis B (Hep B) (3+ doses) |
94.6% |
|
Vaccination coverage among adolescents aged 13-17: |
|
|
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap, 1+ doses) |
89.6% |
|
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV, all required doses) |
63.8% |
|
Meningococcus ACWY (MenACWY, 2+ doses) |
60.0% |
|
Meningococcus B (MenB, 2+ doses) |
31.4% |
|
Hepatitis A (2+ doses) |
85.0% |
|
Hepatitis B (Hep B) (3+ doses) |
92.3% |
|
History of Varicella or Varicella Vaccine (2+ doses) |
92.2% |
Immunization Rates and Activity for Selected Viruses
Influenza
Key Resources
- Red Book Online Influenza News and Resources
- The CDC's FluVaxView tool provides data on flu vaccination coverage for the United States by state, age group, race/ethnicity, and other demographic factors. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/index.html
- Find Flu Vaccine: Vaccines.gov - Search for flu vaccine locations
- Vaccine effectiveness: CDC Seasonal Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Studies | CDC
COVID-19
Percent of the Population of the United States Vaccinated by Age and Number of Doses (as of February 15, 2023)
|
|
At Least 1 Dose |
Completed Primary Series |
Updated (Bivalent Booster Dose) |
|
Population >5 years old |
85.6% |
73.3% |
16.9% |
|
Population >12 years old |
90.3% |
77.4% |
18.2% |
|
Population >18 years old |
92.0% |
79.0% |
19.3% |
Source: CDC
See the most current COVID-19 immunization rates at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
Key Resources
- Critical Updates on COVID-19 (aap.org)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Efficacy: Clinical Trials and Ongoing Safety Monitoring Show That COVID-19 Vaccination Is Safe for Children and Teens | CDC
- Implementing the COVID-19 Vaccines in Pediatrics (aap.org)
- Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters | CDC
Featured Research Articles About Immunization Rates:
- Impact of Routine Childhood Immunization in Reducing Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the United States | Pediatrics
- Value of the Immunization Program for Children in the 2017 US Birth Cohort | Pediatrics
- Interventions to Improve Immunization Coverage Among Children and Adolescents: A Meta-analysis | Pediatrics
Strategies to Improve Vaccination Rates |
- Find an immunization champion in your practice: An immunization champion can serve as a steward and advocate for immunizations in your practice.
- Implement patient reminder-recall systems: Immunization reminder-recall systems are cost-effective methods to identify and notify families whose children are due soon for immunizations (reminder) or are already behind (recall). Access tools here: Reminder and Recall Strategies
- Hold vaccine clinics at hours that are convenient for families: Holding vaccination clinics with special hours (evening or Saturday) at your practice allows for more busy adolescents and their parents to access vaccination services.
- Give providers feedback: Providers often change their behaviors (eg, clinical practices) based on feedback that they are different from those of their peers.
- Include all recommended vaccinations at every visit: It is important to vaccinate whenever possible, because you don’t know when a patient will be back in your office. Standing orders are an effective way to help staff get patients vaccinated while in the office.
- Deliver strong provider recommendations: Studies have shown that parents trust their pediatrician’s guidance and it is important to give a strong recommendation for vaccination
- Use provider prompts and standing orders: Provider prompts can be electronic prompts in EHRs, notes in charts or any other systematic reminder to administer appropriate immunizations.
- Educate staff: Provide staff training about evidence-based communication strategies known to improve vaccine confidence.
- Educate patients and their parents: Take every opportunity to improve vaccine confidence. Educate patients and their parents about each recommended vaccine and the disease it prevents.
- Manage patient records: Accurate immunization records are essential components of forecasts, reminder-recall reports, and coverage reports.
Access additional information and tools here: Office Strategies for Improving Immunization Rates
Immunization Resources |
2023 Immunization Schedules: AAP News | Pediatrics | Immunization Schedules
- Red Book
- AAP Policy
- Education and Quality Improvement Resources
- AAP Patient Care Web Pages
- HealthyChildren.org Immunization Information for Parents and Caregivers
