Early childhood vaccination in two rural counties–Nebraska, 1991-1992

The national vaccination objectives for the year 2000 include increasing coverage for the recommended primary vaccination series* among children aged less than 2 years to at least 90% and to vaccinate at least 95% of school-aged children (1). Although baseline data for these two goals have been obtained in numerous urban settings (2), similar baseline data from rural populations are limited. To determine the vaccination status of children in rural Nebraska, where 51% (812,000) of Nebraska’s residents live, the Nebraska Department of Health, in collaboration with Hastings College, conducted a retrospective study of school-aged children in grades kindergarten through six in two rural counties during the 1991-92 school year. This report summarizes the study findings.