National vaccination coverage levels among children aged 19-35 months--United States, 1998.

Sustained high vaccination coverage levels in the United States are necessary to decrease rates of vaccine-preventable diseases. Therefore, an important component of the U.S. vaccination program is the assessment of vaccination coverage. To assist in this assessment, in 1993, the Childhood Immunization Initiative (CII) was begun to increase vaccination coverage levels among children during the first 2 years of life to > or =90% by 1996 for universally recommended childhood vaccinations and to monitor trends in vaccination coverage. Vaccination objectives also were included in the national health objectives for 2000 initiative. Except for hepatitis B vaccine, the 90% coverage goals were achieved and maintained through implementation of CII by public- and private-sector organizations and health-care providers at the national, state, and local levels.