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. 2004 Jun;94(6):978-84.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.94.6.978.

A middle school immunization law rapidly and substantially increases immunization coverage among adolescents

Francisco Averhoff  1 , Leslie Linton, K Michael Peddecord, Christine Edwards, Wendy Wang, Daniel Fishbein
Affiliations

A middle school immunization law rapidly and substantially increases immunization coverage among adolescents

Francisco Averhoff et al. Am J Public Health. 2004 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: This study assessed the effectiveness of a middle school vaccination requirement for raising second-dose measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine coverage among adolescents.

Methods: Random-digit-dialed telephone surveys were conducted before (1998) and after (1999) the implementation of a vaccination requirement for entry into the seventh grade in San Diego, Calif.

Results: Vaccination coverage was higher among children subject to the vaccination requirement (seventh-grade students; 60%) than among fifth- and sixth-grade students 1 year before the requirement (13%, P <.001), and 8th- through 12th-grade students not subject to the requirement (27%, P <.0001).

Conclusions: Middle school-entry vaccination requirements can rapidly and substantially raise vaccination coverage among students subject to the law.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among students, by grade, 1996–1999.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Two-dose measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination coverage among students, by grade, 1996–1999.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Immunization Action Coalition. Immunization Requirements for School. Available at: http://www.immunize.org. Accessed April 2002.

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