QUESTION
Why is it important for young children in New York to receive the MMR vaccine, and what is the significance of the 75% immunization target?
0:22:30
·
115 sec
Dr. Celia Quinn explains the importance of the 75% target for the 7 vaccine series for children 6 to 35 months old to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.
- The 75% target refers to the proportion of two-year-olds who are up to date on the entire 7 vaccine series, not just the MMR vaccine.
- Children between 6 to 35 months need multiple vaccine doses within this period, requiring various healthcare visits.
- Challenges in accessing care can affect the ability of parents to keep their children's immunizations up to date.
- Following the ACIP guidance early in life protects children when they are most vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases.
Francisco P. Moya
0:22:30
Where New York City all children are required to receive certain vaccinations before attending pre k in kindergarten.
0:22:36
And according to the 2024 preliminary measures management report, percentage of children ages 19 to 35 months with up to date immunization decreased by 0.5% percentage points to 61.5 percent of children immunizations with immunizations during that the first quarter of fiscal 2024 compared with the first quarter of fiscal 2023.
0:23:05
However, this remains far below that 75% target that has not returned to pre COVID 19 pandemic levels.
0:23:14
Why is it important for all young school children in New York to receive the MMR vaccine, to present to prevent community transmission within the city, and what is the significance of that 75% target?
Dr. Celia Quinn
0:23:26
Sure.
0:23:27
So both the target and also the indicator that is on the MMR that you're you were referring to is talking about the proportion of two year olds who are up to date on the entire 7 vaccine series, so not just MMR.
0:23:40
And Again, we're talking about the children between 6 months 35 months, so that's the up to almost three year olds.
0:23:48
You know, it requires multiple visits because each of those vaccines that's required has a series that may range from 1 to 3 or more doses during that 3 year period.
0:23:57
So there are a lot of things that can interrupt people's ability to access care during that 1st 3 years of life.
0:24:03
And we're certainly pushing towards that target, many parents get caught up as their children enter school when those requirements start to kick in.
0:24:12
But again, the the reason why we are hoping that people are able to follow the ACIP guidance is to protect the children from those vaccine preventable diseases earlier in life when they're the most vulnerable.
Francisco P. Moya
0:24:24
Got it.