'We want all children to be well protected from vaccine preventable diseases. If we want to prevent the return of diseases that are currently rare in the United States, we must maintain our high immunization rates, and work to ensure those rates are high in all states and communities.'

For the first time, the baseline series of vaccines -- known as the 4:3:1:3:3 series -- has exceeded 80 percent coverage, meeting the Healthy People 2010 goal a few years early.

The 4:3:1:3:3 series includes four doses of Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTP) vaccine, three or more doses of polio vaccine, one or more doses of measles vaccine, three or more doses of Hib vaccine (which can prevent meningitis and pneumonia), and three doses of hepatitis B vaccine. In 2004, coverage for this series increased to 80.9 percent, compared to 79.4 percent in 2003, 74.8 percent in 2002, 73.7 percent in 2001 and 72.8 percent in 2000.

'Tremendous Progress'

The latest statistics "illustrate the tremendous progress we've made in preventing what were once common childhood diseases," said CDC director Dr. Julie Gerberding.

"Most importantly, these results show that parents have high levels of confidence in our vaccination recommendations," she added. "It's encouraging to see that parents recognize the importance of protecting their children against diseases that, while relatively uncommon, can cause serious harm."

The 2004 National Immunization Survey also found significant increases in the percentage of young children receiving chickenpox and the childhood pneumococcal vaccine, two relatively recent additions to the childhood immunization schedule. Because they were added in the past five years, these vaccines are not yet included in the overall series.

Variation Among Regions

In 2004, as in previous years, there was substantial variation in coverage levels among states and among cities. Estimated coverage with the 4:3:1:3:3 series ranged from 89.1 percent in Massachusetts to 68.4 percent in Nevada.

The range in coverage among the 28 urban areas was similar as among the states. Among the 28 urban areas, the highest estimated coverage for the 4:3:1:3:3 series was 89.7 percent for Davidson County, Tennessee, and the lowest was 64.8 percent in El Paso County, Texas.

"We're very pleased with the overall findings, but the survey also shows there are places where we have work to do," said Dr. Stephen L. Cochi, acting director of CDC's National Immunization Program.

"We want all children to be well protected from vaccine preventable diseases. If we want to prevent the return of diseases that are currently rare in the United States, we must maintain our high immunization rates, and work to ensure those rates are high in all states and communities," he added.