Immunization coverage among predominantly Hispanic children, aged 2-3 years, in central Los Angeles

PURPOSE: To assess the immunization status of young children in a predomina ntly Hispanic region in and around downtown Los Angeles, and factors associ ated with complete immunization by age 24 months. METHODS: The information was gathered in a two-stage cluster survey with pr obability proportionate to estimated size (PPS) sampling of 30 clusters at the first stage, and simple random sampling of a constant number of childre n at the second stage, Vaccination coverage was determined by a review of t he home immunization (HI) card, or of clinic records. RESULTS: Of the 270 sampled children, 91.5% were Hispanic and 6.7% were Bla ck. Home telephone numbers were not available in 24.8% of the homes, and 34 .1% reported having no health insurance. Vaccination coverage was over 90% for the first three doses of Diphtheria, tetanus toxoids and pertussis/ dip htheria, tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTP/DTaP)/Diphthe ria and tetanus toxoids vaccine (DT), first two doses of poliovirus (Polio) vaccine, first dose of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and first two doses of hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccine. Yet, by age 24 months, only 72.2 % of the children had received the combined series of 4:3:1 (i.e., four DTP /DTaP/DT, three Polio, one MMR). This was further reduced to 64.4% for the combined series of 4:3:1:3:3 (i.e., four DTP/DTaP/ DT, three Polio, one MMR , three Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), three Hep B). Factors associat ed with completed on-time vaccination were having an HI card available duri ng the interview and being enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Program for W omen, Infants and Children (WIC). CONCLUSIONS: While vaccination levels for individual antigens were found to he high, more emphasis needs to be placed on getting preschool children va ccinated on-rims according to the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedu le. Ann Epidemiol 2000;10:160-168. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All right s reserved.