February 10, 2005

Little Rock -- The latest National Immunization Survey for July 2003 through June 2004 reveals Arkansas’ childhood immunization rates have increased 12.4 percentage points from 67.1 percent (in CY 2000) to 79.5 percent placing Arkansas among five states showing the most improvement. The rates are based on children 19-35 months of age who received four doses of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis; three doses of Poliovirus; one dose of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella; three doses of Haemophilus Influenzae Type b; and three doses of Hepatitis B. This increase puts Arkansas closer to the U.S. National rate, which is 80.5 percent for the same time period.

Other states showing improvement are New Mexico, Delaware, Ohio, and Florida. Connecticut leads the nation with a rate of 92.4 percent.

According to Charles Beets, Communicable Disease/Immunization Work Unit Leader, “These increases are due to the hard work of local health units colleagues and private providers and their efforts to get these children immunized.”

Dr. Fay Boozman, Health Department Director, states, “I am so proud of our local health units and private providers for what they have been able to accomplish. We have gone from 48th in the nation in 2000 to 32nd nationally for the period ending June 30, 2004.”

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