THERE IS AN EQUITY GAP IN VACCINES

Many children in the U.S. don't have access to routine, recommended vaccines.

CDC data show most childhood vaccine rates are lower among kids who are uninsured, Black, Hispanic or living below the poverty level than among those who are privately insured, White or living at or above the poverty level. And the COVID-19 pandemic has made the vaccine gap wider.

Routine Childhood Vaccinations 101: What parents need to know about vaccines to help keep kids healthy

The next, special installment of our Healthy Moms, Strong Babies webinar, brought to you in partnership with Pfizer, is Routine Childhood Vaccinations 101: What parents need to know. As pediatric vaccination rates have fallen, we’ll be tackling the topic of CDC-recommended vaccinations and their importance in the overall well-being of our children.

Click the link above to watch!

RECENT SURVEY RESULTS!
Understanding Barriers to Routine Childhood Immunizations

In an April 2022 survey of parents with children ages 0-6 who are currently uninsured or covered by Medicaid, factors related to trust, knowledge, and access to health care influenced their decision about routine vaccinations.

View the results of this survey here: Understanding Barriers to Routine Childhood Immunization

This survey was conducted by March of Dimes, with funding support from Pfizer.

LEARN ABOUT THE VACCINE GAP

The latest data from the CDC show that an estimated 70.5 percent of children born in 2017 and 2018 were up to date on all of the seven-vaccine series recommended by CDC.[1] But there are persistent disparities in vaccination coverage:

1

By health insurance status
Less than half (48.3 percent) of children with no insurance received the full series of recommended vaccines, compared to children with Medicaid coverage (65.6 percent), and those with private insurance (78.3 percent).[2]

2

By race and ethnicity
Black, non-Hispanic children (64.7 percent) and Hispanic children (66.3) were the least likely to receive the recommended vaccines, compared to White, non-Hispanic children (74.7 percent) and Asian, non-Hispanic children (74.2 percent).[3]

3

By poverty status
Just 62.5 percent of children below poverty had received the recommended vaccines, while 74.7 percent of all other children had received the full series.[4]

The COVID-19 pandemic has expanded the gap in routine immunization rates.

According to November 2020 data, 40 percent of parents/caregivers say their children missed vaccinations due to the pandemic.[5]

2021 orders for Vaccines for Children—a program that provides no cost vaccines to the uninsured and under-insured—are down by 11.7 million doses compared with 2019.[6]

FOR MOMS AND FAMILIES

En Espanol

Help Protect Your Baby with Vaccines

Vaccinations help protect your baby and others from harmful diseases. Learn about the vaccinations recommended by the CDC and get answers to your questions about vaccines.

Catch-Up on Missed Appointments and Vaccines for Your Baby

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many children missed check-ups and recommended childhood vaccinations. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that every child continues to receive recommended vaccinations. Talk to your health care provider or local health department about getting children caught up on well-child visits and routine childhood vaccinations.

Your Family May Be Eligible for No Cost Vaccines

Many children are eligible for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and can receive vaccines at no cost from participating health care providers. The VFC program helps ensure that all children have a better chance of getting their recommended vaccinations on schedule.

HELP US #CLOSETHEVAXGAP

ON VACCINE KNOWLEDGE by educating moms on routine vaccine recommendations and where they can get them

ON VACCINE TRUST by enlisting local and trusted voices for community conversations

ON #VACCINEEQUITY by advocating for vaccine access for all families

#VACCINEEQUITY SOCIAL PRESS KIT

Help us advocate and educate to #closethevaxgap

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