Head Start Reports  |  Immunization Index  |  Data and Statistics

Head Start
Immunization Levels in Indiana
2003-2004 School year

Data in this report was collected from 86 Head Start facilities
throughout Indiana and compiled by the Indiana State
Department of Health’s Immunization Program.

Governor
Joseph E. Kernan

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: 07/2004

Preface

All licensed child care centers in Indiana must submit an immunization report to the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) on a yearly basis as required by 470 IAC 3-4.1-12. The data received from the 2003-2004 Head Start facility immunization report is summarized in this report.

Data is presented for the age range assessed, 2 to 5 year old children. To be considered complete, a 2 to 5 year old child enrolled in Head Start in Indiana must have received age-appropriate vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Immunizations against varicella (chickenpox) and hepatitis b are not required for enrollment in a Head Start facility in Indiana, but are verified in the immunization report submitted to ISDH.

Highlights

• A total of 86 Head Start facilities reported data on 5,879 children enrolled in their facilities.
  
• Of the Head Start facilities in Indiana that reported immunization data, 58 (67.4%) of the facilities reported overall completion levels greater than 90% for their enrollees.
  
• Ninety-one percent of children enrolled in Head Start facilities in Indiana have completed their immunizations according to state requirements, an increase from the previous year’s assessment.
  

* Vaccine shortage experience during the 2002-2003 assessment year

Recommendations

• Head Start facilities are congratulated for their efforts to improve immunization coverage rates for the 2003-2004 school year.
  
• Sites who neglected to report immunization rates to ISDH failed to comply with 470 IAC 3-4.1-12. These sites need to make sure to report their immunization rates to ISDH in a timely manner for next year’s assessment.
  
• Overall, children enrolled in Head Start facilities in Indiana have decreased their likelihood of contracting a vaccine-preventable disease.

Head Start Reports  |  Immunization Index  |  Data and Statistics