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Arizona behind in national immunization rates

In preparation for National Immunization Month Aug. 1 -31, the March of Dimes Arizona Chapter is urging parents to fully immunize their children as Arizona is not meeting national immunization rates set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC recommends that states have a 90 percent immunization rate where Arizona is lagging behind with a rate of only 76.4 percent, according to the March of Dimes.

Despite recent gains in infant immunization coverage, more than 31 percent of the nation's 2-year-olds are not fully immunized against infectious diseases to which they are especially vulnerable. In Arizona, more than 30 percent of young children are under-immunized and unprotected, and especially at risk when school age is reached.

Arizona is one of 15 states where school and childcare entry requirements are not directly aligned with the Centers for Disease Control National Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, falling below the national immunization standard of 90 percent. March of Dimes and its affiliated physicians believe now is the time to protect the children of Arizona and their future.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, throughout the past decade cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have continued to grow across Arizona with hundreds of cases reported annually. In February 2008, an outbreak of measles occurred in Pima County, which was declared a public health emergency and which could have been avoided.

The March of Dimes urges parents to make sure their children's vaccinations are up-to-date and compliant with current recommendations set by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). To learn more about National Immunization Month and immunization standards, visit www.MarchOfDimes.com/Arizona.


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