Routine Childhood Immunization

Statement of the Problem: Routine childhood immunization is important to both individual and community health. When most children in a community are immune, a disease is contained to those that are susceptible and will quickly die out. However, when fewer children in a community are immune, introduction of a disease can quickly become an outbreak. Since 1984, the U.S. centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has conducted the National Immunization Survey (NIS) to determine immunization coverage rates for each state. In 2009, the National average for completion of recommended childhood immunizations was 70.5%, while Alaska’s coverage rate was 56.6%. This ranking placed Alaska as 49th among all states. It is obvious that Alaska needs to
While there are many barriers that may prevent the timely delivery of childhood vaccines, it is the responsibility of the parent to ensure immunizations are received. In order to increase the percentage of Alaskan children who are immunized, parents must be better educated about immunizations. Alaska Natives exceed, the national immunization rate, with an immunization percent of 80% - most 10% above the national average. This research proposal is designed to focus on the municipality of Anchorage; with the goal of identifying the barrier’s that are preventing parents from immunizing their children. Literature Review:
1. CDC. (2011). National and State Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 19-35 Months - United States. Atlanta: MMWR. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6034a2.htm?s_cid=mm6034a2_e&source=govdelivery This is publicly available data devoted to demographic information correlated to immunization coverage. It is produced annually with the same methodology, providing an accurate tracking tool. 2. Omer, S.,