Status of school entry requirements for varicella vaccination and vaccination coverage 11 years after implementation of the varicella vaccination program

Abstract

We reviewed progress toward adoption of day care and school entry requirements in each state and the District of Columbia (DC) and compared varicella vaccination coverage by state to year of implementation of day care entry requirements. By the start of the 2006-2007 school year, 46 states (92%) and DC had implemented entry requirements for varicella vaccination. Between 1997 and 2005, national varicella vaccination coverage among children 19-35 months of age increased from 25.8% to 87.9%. Implementation of day care entry requirements in 2000 or earlier was associated with higher vaccination coverage (> or =90%; P=.002). Implementation of day care and school entry requirements for varicella vaccination is an important strategy for achieving and maintaining high vaccination coverage among preschool- and school-aged children in the United States. The newly adopted vaccine policy recommendation of 2 doses of varicella vaccine for all school-aged children should be incorporated into the states' school entry requirements.