Head Start Reports  |  Immunization Index  |  Data and Statistics

Head Start
Immunization Levels in Indiana
2002-2003 School year

Data in this report was collected from 90 Head Start facilities
throughout Indiana and compiled by the Indiana State
Department of Health’s Immunization Program.

Governor
Frank L. O'Bannon

State Health Commissioner
Gregory A. Wilson, M.D.

Indiana State Department of Health
Gregory A. Wilson, M.D., State Health Commissioner
M. Elizabeth Carroll, J.D., Deputy State Health Commissioner

Community and Family Health Services Commission
Wendy Gettelfinger, R.N., D.N.S., J.D., Assistant Commissioner

Immunization Program
Michael Runau, M.S., Program Director
Charlene Graves, M.D., Medical Director

Primary Author
Megan Steiger, M.P.H., Epidemiologist

Immunization Program
Indiana State Department of Health
2 North Meridian
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Published: 07/2003

Preface

As required by 470 IAC 3-4.1-12, all licensed child care centers in Indiana must submit immunization reports to the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) on an annual basis. The data from the 2002-2003 Head Start facility immunization assessment is summarized in this report.

Although assessments are required only once per year, it is of utmost importance that upon enrollment, each facility inform parents as to which vaccines are required and give them a reasonable time frame for bringing their child(ren) “up-to-date”. To be considered complete, a child must have age-appropriately received vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Although immunizations against varicella (chicken pox) and hepatitis b are not required for enrollment in child care facilities in Indiana, coverage levels for these vaccines were reported and are shown in the Immunization Status Report.

Highlights

• A total of 90 Head Start facilities reported data on 6,734 children enrolled in their facilities.
• Of the Head Start facilities in Indiana that reported immunization data, 66 (73.3 %) facilities reported overall completion levels greater than 90% for their enrollees.
• Eighty-four percent of children enrolled in Head Start facilities in Indiana have completed their immunizations according to State requirements, the lowest completion rate in 8 years. The drop in immunization coverage levels may be linked to the vaccine shortages experienced in 2002 (table 1).

Recommendations

• Head Start facilities and Local Health Departments should carefully review this data to identify facilities who have reported immunization coverage levels of less than 90 % for children who are up-to-date.
• Head Start facilities with low coverage levels should make every effort to improve their rates by aiming to increase the number of children in their facilities with a "complete" immunization status. Contact your local health department or immunization field representative if you need assistance.
• Facilities who have attained 90% coverage or greater are to be congratulated on their efforts and are encouraged to maintain their efforts on this important factor in preventive health care.

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