ATLANTA, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. child immunization rates remain stable at 76.1 percent, not a statistically significant difference from the 2007 estimate of 77.4 percent, officials said.
The National Immunization Survey published Thursday in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report said the survey for 2008 included children age 19-35 months and born during January 2005-June 2007.
"Vaccination is one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children's health," Dr. Melinda Wharton, acting director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a statement.
"Thanks to the hard work of doctors and nurses and other immunization providers and the commitment of parents, rates are still high, but we must all continue to work hard to reach those children who are not fully vaccinated."
The national goal for immunization coverage for toddlers is 80 percent, Wharton said.
