After being stuck near the bottom, Colorado has vaulted to No. 16 in a nationwide survey of states’ vaccination rates for children.
In 2005, 83.4 percent of the state’s 3-year-olds were fully vaccinated, according to federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures released Thursday.
That is a jump from 77.1 percent in 2004, when Colorado ranked 44th in the nation.
In the previous two years, the state was dead last nationally, with vaccination rates of 62.7 percent for 2002 and 67.5 percent in 2003.
This year for the first time, the CDC began counting a sixth vaccine, for chickenpox.
When that vaccine is included, 78.6 percent of the state’s toddlers were fully vaccinated, for a ranking of 15th overall.
By either measure, the state is now above the national average.
“While the improved ranking is great, the real story is about protecting more children,” said Dennis Ellis, executive director of the state health department.
“We need to focus on having the state’s children fully immunized,” he said.
In 2004, the state set a goal of immunizing at least 80 percent of Colorado children by 2010.
“Definitely, we’re going in the right direction,” said Dr. Richard Vogt, executive director of the Tri-County Health Department, which serves Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas counties.
“We don’t want everyone to let their guard down,” Vogt said. “The closer we get to 100 percent, the more protected the community is.”
The state’s dismal vaccination record coincided with shortages of some vaccines and with budget cuts that eliminated funding for shots to disadvantaged children.
In 2004, Gov. Bill Owens allocated $500,000 to restore those programs. Last year, the state launched a $68,000 marketing program to encourage parents to vaccinate kids.
Vogt said a concerted effort by public health officials helped raise vaccination rates.
Tri-County combed the records of families receiving public assistance and encouraged those parents to get shots for their kids, Vogt said.
Next, the department will direct similar efforts in child-care centers, he said.
The top state in the survey was Massachusetts, where 90.7 percent of children were fully vaccinated. Vermont, with 62.9 percent, was last.
Staff writer Karen Augé can be reached at 303-954-1733 or kauge@denverpost.com.
