American journal of preventive medicine
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Children with sickle cell disease are at increased risk of serious infections, many of which can be prevented by receipt of recommended immunizations. Study objectives were to (1) assess the primary immunization series coverage among children with sickle cell disease and (2) compare the coverage with that of those without sickle cell disease. ⋯ Although children with sickle cell disease had higher immunization rates than those without sickle cell disease, >40% of children with sickle cell disease did not receive all recommended immunizations by age 19 months. Immunization information systems should be utilized to improve routine immunization coverage of children with sickle cell disease.
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The response to the COVID-19 pandemic became increasingly politicized in the U.S., and the political affiliation of state leaders may contribute to policies affecting the spread of the disease. This study examines the differences in COVID-19 infection, death, and testing by governor party affiliation across the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. ⋯ Gubernatorial party affiliation may drive policy decisions that impact COVID-19 infections and deaths across the U.S. Future policy decisions should be guided by public health considerations rather than by political ideology.
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Early childhood vaccination rates are lower in rural areas than those in urban areas of the U.S. This study's objective is to quantify vaccine timeliness and the prevalence of undervaccination patterns in Montana and to measure the associations between timeliness and series completion by age 24 months. ⋯ Fewer than 2 in 5 Montana children were fully vaccinated on time for the combined 7-vaccine series. To increase vaccination rates, initiatives to increase vaccine confidence and remind parents to complete vaccine series are needed.
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Monitoring the trends in undervaccination, including that because of parental vaccine refusal or delay, can inform public health responses directed at improving vaccine confidence and vaccination coverage. ⋯ In a 14-year cohort study, vaccination timeliness has improved. However, the small but increasing number of children who received no vaccines by age 23 months warrants additional attention.
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Use of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in nonimmunocompromised adults aged ≥65 years is controversial. Higher-valency conjugate vaccines (15-valent and 20-valent ) are under development; their potential cost effectiveness in older adults is unknown, particularly when potential indirect (herd immunity) effects from childhood vaccination are considered. ⋯ In-development pneumococcal conjugate vaccines may be economically unreasonable in older adults, regardless of serotype effectiveness assumptions, particularly when considering potential indirect effects from use of those vaccines in children. Adult vaccines containing high-risk serotypes not contained in childhood vaccines may be more promising.