Childhood Vaccination Rates Remain Below Pre-Pandemic Levels, Study Finds

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics reveals that routine childhood vaccination rates have not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, three years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, conducted by Malini B. DeSilva, M.D., and colleagues at HealthPartners Institute, highlights potential disparities in vaccine uptake among certain population groups.

The study analyzed vaccination data for 395,143 infants born between January 1, 2018, and May 31, 2023, focusing on coverage for rotavirus, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP), and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

Key findings indicate a decline in vaccination rates:

• At 5 months of age, coverage for two doses of all three vaccines was 87.8% in February 2020, but dropped to 80.8% by October 2023.
• By 12 months, vaccine series completion was 92.3% in January 2020, decreasing to 89.6% in October 2023.

The study also identified factors associated with lower vaccine uptake:

• Caregivers whose primary language was not English or Spanish.
• Non-Hispanic Black race.
• Medicaid insurance.

The researchers emphasize the need for targeted interventions to improve vaccine coverage within these identified groups. They also call for further investigation into the underlying causes of these disparities, including sociodemographic and cultural factors, access to care, structural barriers, and vaccine confidence.

“Three years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, coverage for selected routine childhood immunizations remained below prepandemic levels,” the authors wrote. “Although our findings highlight population groups for whom focused interventions are needed to improve vaccine coverage, further understanding of how these factors may be related to other sociodemographic and cultural factors, availability of care, structural barriers to accessing care, and vaccine confidence, is needed.”

Disclaimer: This news article is based on information from a research study and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Vaccination decisions should be made in consultation with a healthcare professional. The statistics referenced reflect the subject population of the study, and may not fully represent all populations.