MMWR

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Outbreak of Salmonella Serotype Enteritidis Infections Among Workers at a Facility Producing Poultry Vaccine — Maine, November–December 2006

PRESS CONTACT: Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Infectious Disease
Anthony Yartel, MPH
(207) 287-3600

There are occupational risks associated with the manufacture of veterinary biologics involving human pathogens such as salmonella that are preventable. In late 2006, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services investigated an outbreak of salmonellosis at a facility that produced poultry vaccine. Results of the investigation suggested that 21 workers at the facility became ill during a 1–month period from exposure to a strain of salmonella that was used in vaccine production. Infection was thought to have resulted from environmental contamination of the production area after the spill of a liquid containing a high concentration of salmonella.

National, State, and Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 19–35 Months — United States, 2006

PRESS CONTACT: CDC Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

• Nation′s Childhood Immunization Rates Remain at or above record levels

As of 2006, vaccination coverage is on target to meet the nation´s healthy people 2010 goal for the routinely recommended childhood vaccination series, but children who live below the poverty level are less likely to be vaccinated than children who live at or above the poverty level. Additional measures are needed to deliver vaccines to children who live below the poverty level. The nation´s childhood immunization rates remain at or near record levels for the series of routinely recommended vaccines, according to 2006 estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The current rate of 77% is below the nation´s objective of 80% for the recommended vaccine series but may be on target to meet the nation´s goal by 2010. Racial disparity in vaccination coverage of the recommended series was also reported between black and white children, but according to the CDC, the disparity was associated with the differential distribution of poor children within the racial/ethnic populations. According to 2005 census figures, nearly 41% of black children <5 years of age lived below the poverty level compared to 16% of white children. Children living below the poverty level were vaccinated less often than children living at or above the poverty level; and coverage did not differ across racial/ethnic populations of children who lived below the poverty level, nor of children who lived at or above the poverty level. The Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) can pay for childhood vaccines for uninsured and underinsured children. Other programs such as the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) can also assist families with children who need vaccinations. In addition to sustained high coverage of the recommended vaccine series, there were notable increases in national coverage rates for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and varicella vaccine as a result of collaborative efforts between national, state and local immunization programs to achieve and sustain national immunization coverage goals.

National Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — United States, 2006

PRESS CONTACT: CDC Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

• Nation′s Childhood Immunization Rates Remain at or above record levels

Healthy People 2010 objectives for vaccination coverage of adolescents ages 13–15 years have not been met, especially for Td and Tdap vaccines and varicella vaccines, and we need to continue to build awareness of the vaccination recommendations among parents and healthcare providers to increase coverage rates among adolescents. The NIS–Teen will be conducted annually to monitor coverage with recommended vaccinations. In 2006, for the first time, the National Immunization Survey (NIS) collected provider–reported vaccination information for adolescents aged 13–17 years (NIS-Teen) to estimate vaccination coverage of recommended vaccines. Vaccination coverage was ≥80% for three or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine (Hep B) and two or more doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, and ≥60% for one or more doses of tetanus–diphtheria (Td) or tetanus, reduced diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, and one or more doses of varicella vaccine among adolescents without a history of varicella disease. Coverage of Tdap and meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) was low, 11% and 12%, respectively. Recommendations for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine had not been published at the time of the survey. Healthy People 2010 objectives for adolescents ages 13–15 years (=90% coverage for 3 or more doses of HepB, two or more doses of MMR, one or more doses of Td booster, and one or more doses of varicella among adolescents without previous varicella disease) had not been met. Routine health–care visits for adolescents should be encouraged, with emphasis on a health–care visit at ages 11–12 years for receipt of recommended vaccinations, and providers should continue to assess the need for recommended vaccinations at every opportunity.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES