Dec. 27--Tennessee has been ranked first in the nation for having the highest rate of immunization for selected vaccines for children ages 19 months to 35 months, according to a new report.
"We set a goal to better protect the health of young children in our state by improving our immunization rates to prevent them from getting these very serious and potentially deadly diseases," said Tennessee Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper.
"Immunization is the best way to protect yourself and your family from vaccine-preventable disease, and our work continues to improve immunization rates for all Tennesseans."
For two decades America's Health Rankings has published an annual analysis of the nation's health, looking state by state.
The latest report highlights a variety of measures, including the prevalence of smoking, obesity, cardiovascular death and infant mortality rates among other factors.
State health department officials say that because the benchmark used in this year's rankings report has not been published before, it's not possible to compare this rate with past years.
However, among the same age group in the 2009 report, Tennessee ranked fourth.
Kelly Moore, medical director of the Tennessee Immunization Program, said it's not easy to vaccinate every child on time.
"We celebrate the accomplishment of parents, doctors, nurses and other public health professionals in making the state's childhood immunization program among the best in the nation," she said.
Moore said the program is also working to improve the immunization rates among adults and teens.
"When people get the vaccines they need, everyone in the community is safer and healthier," she said.
-- Kristina Goetz: 529-2380
Vaccines for Children
Every child under 19 years old in Tennessee can receive routinely recommended vaccines regardless of their parents' ability to pay. The federal program, called Vaccines for Children, guarantees that children without health insurance for vaccines can receive them for a small administrative fee at many doctors' offices and all county health departments. State health officials encourage parents to contact their health care provider or the health department for details.
To learn more about how Tennessee ranked in America's Health Rankings report, log on to americashealthrankings.org
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