Reported vaccine-preventable diseases--United States, 1993, and the childhood immunization initiative.

In the United States, children are routinely vaccinated against nine diseases--diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), hepatitis B, measles, mumps, pertussis, poliomyelitis (paralytic), rubella, and tetanus. Based on public health surveillance and epidemiologic assessment of most of these diseases, the impact of childhood vaccination on reported occurrence has been substantial: provisional surveillance data for 1993 indicate that for five of these diseases and for congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), the number of reported cases is at or near the lowest levels ever, suggesting near interruption of transmission of these diseases. This report presents provisional data for December 1993 for these 10 diseases, compares provisional data for 1993 with final data for 1992, and describes the Childhood Immunization Initiative (CII).