U.S. National Immunization Survey, 1996* 

Vaccination coverage levels among all children 

aged 19-35 months, by vaccines and race/ethnicity 

Vaccine/ 

Dose 

1996 

Goal 

Natl. 

Estimate 

White,

non-Hisp.

 Hispanic 

 DTP/DT 

>3 Doses 

>4 Doses 

90% 

— 

95% 

81% 

96%

83%

 93% 

 77%

 Poliovirus 

> 3 Doses 90% 91% 92% 89%

 Measles-containing vaccine 

> 1 Dose 90% 91% 92% 88% 

Haemophilus influenza 

type b (Hib) 

> 3 Doses 90% 92% 93% 89%

 Hepatitis B 

> 3 Doses 70% 82% 82% 80% 

*Children in this survey were born during February 1993-May 1995. 

CDC Closes Gap on Hispanic Childhood Immunizations 

By Victor G. Coronado, MD, MPH


Closing the Gap, Adult Immunizations Save Lives • November 1998


Disparities in vaccination coverage have been documented half of all calls placed to the toll-free hotline numbers are a result of 

previously among different racial/ethnic groups. The Octo- these PSA messages reaching the public. 

ber 17, 1997 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report National PSAs complement or support the mission of the CII 

(MMWR) presents findings from CDC’s National Immunization Sur- and immunization activities at the state and local levels. Ongoing 

vey, which documents progress toward achieving the 1996 Child- research indicates that Hispanic audiences respond well to strong, 

hood Immunization Initiative dramatic messages. The ability to 

(CII) by racial/ethnic group and transfer this knowledge to practice 

by level of poverty. has allowed the PSAs to win gold 

The findings indicate that and bronze medals and other 

two of the five CII vaccination awards of excellence at the 

coverage goals were met for His- Worldfest International Film and 

panic children; the other three Video Festival in both the health 

were within two percentage points services subcategory and the Hisof meeting the goals. Results for panic market subcategory. 

two of the five racial/ethnic cat- Further efforts to increase 

egories—Hispanic, and White, vaccination coverage in Hispanic 

non-Hispanic—are listed below and other minority groups are oncompared with the national esti­ going. Achievement of the namates. tional Healthy People 2000 obBased on data from earlier jective of 90 percent coverage of 

surveys, these differences repre­ all American children with the vacsent a narrowing of the gap in cov­ cines in the basic series will require 

erage between non-Hispanic a fully functional vaccine-delivery 

white children and Hispanic chil­ system and sustained participation 

dren. This narrowing may reflect of communities, health care pronationwide efforts to increase vac­ viders, government officials, and 

cination levels in Hispanic popu­ private-sector partners. 

lations. Further information on the 

State and local health depart- survey can be found in the 

ments and community and pro- MMWR Volume 46, Number 41 

fessional organizations have pages 963-969. (Web: http:// 

implemented multifaceted efforts www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/ 

in some major urban areas to im- mmwr.html). To reach the CDC’s 

prove vaccination levels among minority populations. Spanish hotline number, call 1-800-232-0233. 

Since 1994, the National Immunization Project has released nine Dr. Victor G. Coronado is medical epidemiologist at the Data Manpublic service announcements (PSA) in Spanish for use on television agement Division of the National Immunization Program, Centers for 

and radio and in print. These PSAs target Hispanic parents and Disease Control and Prevention.

caregivers of children younger than 2 years of age. More than oneOffice of Minority Health Resource Center U.S. Department of Health and Human Services