Children on the move and vaccination coverage in a low-income, urban Latino population

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of childh ood moves and foreign birth on vaccination coverage among Latino children i n New York City. Methods. Vaccination coverage was assessed in a survey of 314 children youn ger than 5 years at 2 immunization clinics. Results. Forty-seven percent of the study children had moved abroad. After adjustment for health insurance, regular source of care, and country of bir th, child moves had no independent effect on vaccination coverage. Foreign- born children had diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus, oral polio vaccine, and mea sles-mumps-rubella vaccination coverage rates similar to those of US-born c hildren, but they were underimmunized in regard to Haemophilus influenzae t ype b and hepatitis B. Conclusions. Foreign birth, but not childhood moves, is a barrier to vaccin ations among low-income, urban Latino children.