National, state, and urban area vaccination coverage among children aged 19-35 months--United States, 2005.

The National Immunization Survey (NIS) provides vaccination coverage estimates among children aged 19-35 months for each of the 50 states and selected urban areas. Findings from the 2005 NIS include nationwide increases in coverage with >/=3 and >/=4 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and continued high levels of coverage for the other recommended vaccines and vaccine series. In addition, no racial/ethnic disparities in coverage estimates were observed in the 4:3:1:3:3:1 vaccine series, the recommended series for children aged 19-35 months that includes DTP/DT/DTaP; poliovirus vaccine; measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR); Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine; hepatitis B vaccine; and varicella vaccine. An important accomplishment indicated by the 2005 NIS data is the achievement of <50% coverage for the full series of PCV (>/=4 doses) and <80% coverage for >/=3 doses within 5 years after being added to the U.S.-recommended childhood immunization schedule in 2000. This occurred despite shortages of this vaccine during 2001-2004, which might have affected accessibility to PCV.