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Source: MedPage Today

By: Smith, Michael

06/18/2012

Researchers from the Oregon Health Authority analyzed the immunization status of children born from 2003 to 2009 using the Oregon ALERT Immunization Information System, noting a three-fold increase over three years in parents delaying or limiting vaccinations for children under nine months old. In many cases, these parents did not adhere to published alternative vaccination schedules, and their children had not received all of the recommended vaccines by nine months. The children studied were categorized as shot-limiters, having never received more than two shots per doctor visit, totaling 4,502 children; episodic limiters, sometimes receiving less than the recommended number of shots, totaling 22,451 children; and non-limiters, who followed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations, totaling 70,758 children. The researchers noted that among children born between July 2003 and November 2006, shot-limiting rates slipped to 2.3 percent from 3.7 percent; but among those born from November 2006 to September 2008, shot-limiting rates climbed to 9.3 percent from 2.5 percent. Shot-limiting rates held steady, however, from September 2008 to October 2009. Through age nine months, shot-limiters received an average of 6.4 shots in 4.2 visits, while episodic and non-limiters received 10.4 shots in 3.2 visits. Although shot-limiters typically had caught up in vaccines for the first nine months by 19 months of age, they were behind on those due in the first 19 months. The study is published in Pediatrics.