Pediatric Vaccination Numbers Among Military Children Improving; Gaps Remain

A new study, “Vaccine Completion and Timeliness Among Children in the Military Health System: 2010–2019,” looking at the rate of vaccination among military children found that while improvements have been made since 2010, gaps remain when compared to goals set by the federal government. The study, published in the October 2024 Pediatrics (published online Sept. 19), used data from the Military Health System immunization registry and healthcare encounters to evaluate vaccine coverage in military dependents up to two years of age. It found that children of this age born at military treatment facilities had higher vaccine series completion compared with corresponding national estimates. However, of the nearly 276,000 children studied, only 74.4% had the full seven vaccine series - which includes DTaP, MMR, Hib and PCV - with more than 36% of those completed with delays. Healthy People 2020, a program launched by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, set an 80% goal for the completion of the DTaP, MMR, Hib and PCV vaccine series and a 90% goal for each individual vaccine series. Military families can run up against barriers finding providers who accept military health plans, stringent work schedules, and work-related relocations.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends vaccination against 15 childhood illnesses by the time a child reaches two years. These illnesses include diphtheria, polio, measles, and tetanus. The study concluded the Military Health System may also benefit from the creation of an immunization registry to help track care across various settings to include care completed outside military facilities. Providers should also remain vigilant regarding compliance for DTaP, PCV, rotavirus and Hib vaccines.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.