Retrospective assessment of vaccination coverage among school-aged children–selected U.S. cities, 1991

Preschool-aged children are at increased risk for vaccine-preventable diseases; outbreaks of these diseases in this age group occur predominantly among unvaccinated children (1). In the United States, vaccination rates of individual antigens required for children at the time they enter school are greater than 95%; however, vaccination rates for children at their second birthday are substantially lower (2) despite recommendations by the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics that all children complete a schedule of vaccination by age 15-18 months.* To retrospectively assess vaccination levels among school-aged children at their second birthday, CDC, in collaboration with state and local health departments, is conducting surveys of vaccination levels among children entering school who reside in the 60 largest U.S. cities. This report presents findings from surveys completed in nine cities during 1991.