Fact sheet: immunization in Georgia, No. 33 (Jan. 2001)

January 2001

DHR Office of Communications

Georgia Department of Human Resources

IMMUNIZATION IN GEORGIA

The Facts
Georgia law requires all children entering school or daycare to show proof of immunization. However, children should begin to receive vaccinations as infants so they can be protected during the preschool years as well. To prevent the occurrence and outbreaks of childhood vaccine preventable diseases, it is necessary to maintain immunization levels of 90 percent or higher. Public health clinics in Georgia monitor immunization levels in both public clinics and in the population as a whole. In 1999, 94 percent of Georgia's two-year-olds who use public health clinics were adequately immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella. Public clinics serve less than 50 percent of Georgia's children. The National Immunization Survey of 19-35 month-old children in Georgia conducted by CDC in 1999 revealed an 83.1 percent coverage level. By the age of two, a child should have received 4 doses of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP/DTaP), one for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), 4 for haemophilus influenza B (HIB), 3 for polio (IPV or OPV), 3 for hepatitis B (HBV), one dose of varicella for chickenpox, and 4 doses of pneumococcal conjugate (PCV). As of August 2000, all children entering school or daycare must be age-appropriately immunized with all the required vaccines. This includes protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (if under 7 years of age), polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae, type b (Hib disease) (if under 5 years of age), and varicella (chickenpox). In addition, children who are entering 6th grade are required to show proof of protection against measles (2 doses given on or after the first birthday and at least 4 weeks apart or a positive serology). Beginning with the 2001-2002 school year, students entering 6th grade must also show proof of immunity against varicella or chickenpox (vaccination date/s, positive serology, or a health care provider's interpretation of a parent's description of disease history).

Persons of all ages should have their immunization status reviewed on each visit to their health care provider and any vaccines that are currently routinely recommended should be administered if indicated.
The Resources
The Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) which began in October 1994, is coordinated by the Georgia Immunization Program. VFC provides free vaccines to private and public providers for children birth through 18 years of age who are Medicaid-enrolled, American Indian/Alaskan Native, the uninsured, and children whose vaccinations are not covered by insurance. As of September 2000, all public health clinics in Georgia and over 1,567 private physicians at 828 locations participate in the program. During 1999, public health clinics in Georgia's 159 counties administered 781,148 doses of vaccine and private providers administered 705,824 doses of vaccine supplied by the VFC program. Public Health's budget for vaccines included $6.9 million in state funds in FY 2000 and $16.8 million in the form of vaccine supplies in the calendar year 2000 from the National Immunization Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fees charged for immunizations vary, depending on ability to pay. For children who qualify for the Vaccines for Children program, private providers may charge an administration fee of up to $14.81 per injection. Medicaid and PeachCare reimburse providers for vaccinations given to Medicaid and PeachCare recipients. To overcome barriers to vaccination, Georgia's public health departments remind parents when their children's vaccinations are due; offer extended clinic hours; give vaccinations on a walk-in basis; and distribute educational materials on immunization. People 50 years and older and anyone with chronic medical conditions should receive an annual influenza immunization. These are usually given during the fall months and are available at public health clinics. The same people should be vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia. For most people, this vaccine is given once in a lifetime, at any time of the year.
DHR Office of Communications January 2001
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