More Kansas kids getting immunized, Sebelius says
Kansas immunization rate jumps to 12th in nation

More Kansas children are getting the immunizations that will protect them from illness, Governor Kathleen Sebelius said today.

The latest National Immunization Survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts Kansas’ immunization rate at 12th best in the nation, up from 43rd in 2004.

“This is good news for Kansas kids, because it shows more of them are going to grow up healthy and free from sometimes life-threatening illnesses,” Sebelius said.

Kansas’ 2005 immunization rate for the core set of immunizations – the 4:3:1:3:3 series – is now 83.8 percent.  That’s 3.8 percent above the national average and is a significant improvement from the state’s 2002 rate of 66.8 percent.  Roughly 13,000 more Kansas children received immunizations than would have if the rate had remained the same.

“Four years ago, nearly a third of Kansas kids weren’t getting the critical immunizations they need to stay healthy.  That was unacceptable, and it’s why we’ve made childhood vaccinations a priority,” Sebelius said.

In 2003, Sebelius appointed a task force to find ways to increase the number of children receiving immunizations.  The Kansas Department of Health and Environment put many of the group’s recommendations into practice, among them:

• Recommending health care providers accelerate childhood immunization schedules so Kansas children received their shots earlier;
• Increasing coordination and follow-up between WIC recipients and the state immunization program targeting high risk counties; and
• Expanding the successful “Immunize and Win a Prize” program statewide.  Prizes were given to children who received timely immunizations.  This helped to increase public awareness of the importance of immunization.

Sebelius thanked Kansas health care providers, along with KDHE, for their work to improve the lives of children.

“Thanks to you, more kids will start life healthy, and that’s outstanding news for them, their parents and our state,” Sebelius said.

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