Trends in vaccination coverage disparities among children, United States, 2001–2010

Abstract

IntroductionOne of two overarching goals of the Healthy People 2010 initiative was to eliminate health disparities. We evaluate trends in children vaccination coverage disparities by socio-demographic characteristics in the United States from 2001 through 2010. MethodsDisparities in vaccination coverage for the 4:3:1:3:3:1 vaccine series was assessed with National Immunization Survey (NIS) 2001–2010 data. The disparities between two categories of population were independently evaluated yearly from 2001 through 2010. ResultsIn 2001, 10 out of 12 disparities were significant (P-value <0.05). Six disparities were reduced from statistically significant in 2001 to not significant in 2010. Across 2001–2010, 8 disparities narrowed significantly; the average change in disparities per year were negative and ranged from −0.30% to −0.64% (P-value <0.05). ConclusionsSignificant success has been achieved in reducing disparities in vaccination coverage for young children among most of the major socio-demographic subpopulations in the United States by 2010.