Immunization Study Reports

Child Immunization Study

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) provides a vaccine schedule to achieve protection against 14 diseases by 24 months of age. These include diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, varicella, pneumococcal disease, hepatitis A, and influenza. The Georgia Department of Health summarizes immunization coverage for children aged 19 through 35 months using this ACIP schedule.

Prior to 2020, the child immunization studies used a retrospective cohort research design where children who turned two in January were sampled from each district. Identifying information was collected from electronic birth records and vaccination history was collected primarily from GRITS. If the child’s record was not up-to-date, local public health staff contacted parents, guardians, and providers to obtain any missing immunization history data.

Rather than sampling, the current methodology uses all immunization records and demographic data for children aged 19 through 35 months from the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS).

Adolescent Immunization Study

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) provides a vaccine schedule to achieve protection against diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, meningococcal disease, human papillomavirus, and influenza. ACIP also recommends that adolescents catch up on incomplete polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and varicella childhood immunizations. The Georgia Department of Health summarizes immunization coverage for adolescents aged 13 through 17 years using this ACIP schedule.

Prior to 2020, the adolescent immunization studies used a cross-sectional study design where private and public schools were sampled from each district. From these schools, a number of 7th grade students were randomly sampled Georgia’s Immunization Regional Consultants (IRCs) collected identifying information and vaccination history from school 3231 files for the selected students and input them into an electronic web-based data collection system. This system interfaced with GRITS to extract vaccination data.

Rather than sampling, the current methodology uses all immunization records and demographic data for children aged 13 through 17 years from the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS). 

 

Updated 8/9/2023