Immunization status of 2-year-old children, year 2000 survey results.

Immunization rates among Tennessee's 2-year-olds remain at high levels, and disease remains at historically low levels. The completion rates have remained relatively stable for the past three years, although there has been an equalization of rates among the regions. The portion of the TennCare population receiving all their vaccines in the private setting will continue to require additional resources to sustain the improvements noted in this survey. Other children who have been identified as being at increased risk for incompletion are children starting their vaccine series past age 120 days and children with two or more older siblings. The Immunization Program has embarked on collaboration with the TennCare managed care organizations (MCOs) to electronically exchange immunization data with the Immunization Registry. This will eventually enable physicians, MCOs, and health department personnel to identify high-risk children and children who are behind in their immunization series for more intensive follow-up. The goal of 90% of all children being completely immunized by their second birthday is within our reach, as demonstrated by the dramatic increases in immunization levels in the past ten years. To reach that goal will require that we in the medical community, public and private, continue to use those strategies that have worked while developing new strategies that continue the progress.