Editorial: October--immunization action month.

Abstract

For the third consecutive year, October has been designated Immunization Action Month. As in the past, the 1975 campaign is designed to focus the attention of health care professionals and the general public on the inadequate immunization levels among preschool children (1 to 4 years old) against poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. Immunization Action Month was initiated as a national campaign in 1973 to reverse the declining trend of immunization levels during the last decade. Prior to 1974, immunization levels in preschool children had declined significantly. With poliomyelitis vaccine, for example, 84.1% of preschool children were immunized in 1963 (three or more doses of vaccine); in 1973, the proportion had declined to 60.4%. Similar trends were noted for the other six communicable diseases. Current vaccine distribution figures and the latest US Immunization Survey indicate that the declining immunization levels were stemmed in 1974. Nevertheless, these levels are