More Washington teens up-to-date on their shots
Photo: James Gathany/CDC
More of Washington teens are up-to-date on their shots, but the state still has a way to go before it achieves recommended 90 percent target immunization rate, the Washington State Department of Health said today.
In a survey of immunization rates among adolescents 13 to 17 years old, Washington state met or exceeded the national average for newer immunizations, the department said.
The study, called the National Immunization Survey, was collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Teens do not visit the doctor’s office as often as younger children, so it is easy for them to miss their shots, said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky in a statement announcing the survey results, “Many people don’t realize that teens need immunizations to stay healthy just like children and infants.”
The state did particularly well in getting teens immunized with some of the newer vaccines, including the vaccines against human papillomavirus or HPV, which causes genital warts and cervical cancer, pertussis, which causes whooping cough, and meningococcus, which can cause brain and other serious infections.
The survey found:
- In Washington, teen immunization rates for at least one dose of HPV vaccine rose from 46.5 percent to 60.0 percent. This compares to the national average is 44.3 percent.
- The state rate for whooping cough vaccination also increased from 34.7 percent to 60.1 percent, compared to the national average of 55.6 percent.
- For receiving at least one dose of the meningitis immunization, the state rate was 55.8 percent, little better than the national rate of 53.6 percent.
It is important that teens receive their immunizations for a number of reasons, the Department of Health said.
- In some cases, childhood diseases, such as chickenpox, can cause more serious disease in teens than they will in younger children.
- Unimmunized teens can also spread disease to others in the community who are not protected or may be particularly vulnerable to the infection.
- And teens will often be asked for proof of immunization in order to attend school or college, join the military, or travel abroad.
The Department of Health Recommends:
- Parents should make sure to schedule a well-child check-up at age 11 or 12.
- They should also get their teens immunized when they see their health care provider for sports physicals, injuries, and mild illnesses.
- Parents are urged to use their regular health care providers for teen immunizations.
To learn more:
- For help finding a health care provider or an immunization clinic, call the local health agency (www.doh.wa.gov/LHJMap/LHJMap.htm) in your area or the Family Health Hotline at 1-800- 322-2588.
- More information on teen immunizations is available on the Department of Health Immunization Program Web site (http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize/immunization/adolescent-facts.htm/).
- Information about the National Immunization Teen-survey data is available as well (http://www.cdc.gov/nis/about_nis.htm#nis_teen).
The National Immunization Survey data estimates how many teens received six recommended vaccines. Three of these are newer vaccines recommended to be given at age 11 or 12 years: the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV), and the HPV vaccine. The survey also covers three routine childhood vaccines: measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR); hepatitis B vaccine; and chickenpox (varicella) vaccine.
Category: Child & Youth Health, Doctors, Drugs & Medicines, News, Vaccines
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