Data and Statistics

County Vaccination Coverage

The Immunization Unit of the Epidemiology and Immunization Services Branch, in the Public Health Services Department of the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, conducts periodic Random Digit Dialing (RDD) telephone surveys. Interviewers make phone calls to randomly selected phone numbers to assess immunization coverage rates, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding vaccinations among San Diego County residents.

Surveys provide valuable data to determine what proportions of infants, children, and adults; pregnant women/mothers, of children under three years of age; and seniors living in San Diego County are fully immunized. The information collected helps us plan programs to do a better job of protecting all San Diegans and visitors from vaccine preventable diseases.

We measure our progress against the immunization component of the Healthy People 2030 Objectives, set by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The objectives are science-based, 10-year national objectives for improving the health of all Americans. It is important to note that these objectives are reviewed regularly and changed to reflect the latest immunization recommendations. These objectives include the elimination of cases of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as congenital rubella syndrome; the reduction of the number of pertussis cases for children under one year of age; Hib (serotype) for children, under five years of age; Hepatitis B in persons two to 18 years of age; measles and mumps cases; and varicella cases in person under 17 years of age.

RDD

Vaccine Coverage Statistics: A Work in Progress

The most recent San Diego RDD was conducted, in 2021-2022. Results showed significant findings across all the populations surveyed.

 

Provider Verification of Vaccination Information
 Verification of records were validated using the San Diego Immunization Registry (SDIR), the regional Immunization Information System (IIS) in place at the time of the surveys. Staff also contacted the child’s provider, after gaining permission from the parent or guardian, to verify immunizations. 

 

 

Infants
RDD Results

·       San Diego County did not meet the 2020 overall goal of 80% of San Diego preschool children (19-35 months) receiving the 4:3:1:3:3:1:4 series recommendations: four doses of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), three doses of polio, one dose of MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella), three doses of Hib (Haemophilus influenzae B), three doses of hepatitis B, one dose of varicella (chickenpox) and 4 doses of pneumococcal (PCV). 

·       Compared to the RDD 2016/2017 iteration, RDD 2021/2022 vaccination rates were lower for DTAP, Polio, MMR, Hib, Hep B (>3 doses), Varicella, PCV, Hep A (≥2 doses), and Rotavirus.

·       Hep B (Birth dose 1), Hep A (>1 dose), and Flu (≥1 dose) vaccination rates were higher for RDD 2021/2022 compared to the RDD 2016/2017.

Linkage to Healthy People 2020 Objectives

·       Compared to the 2020 Healthy People Objectives results, San Diego preschool children (19-35 months) receiving the 4:3:1:3:3:1:4 series showed a lower percentage than the national results (61% and 72.8%, respectively).

 

 

Healthy People 2030 Objectives

·       Maintain the vaccination coverage level of 1 dose of the MMR vaccine in children by age 2 years (target of 90.8%).

·       Reduce the proportion of children who receive 0 doses of recommended vaccines by age 2 years (target is 1.3%).

·       Increase the coverage level of 4 doses of the DTaP vaccine in children by age 2 years (target is 90%). 

 

 

The graphs below show the changes in coverage rates for each vaccine over the last several years, as well as how San Diego compares to state and national results. Although a few vaccine coverage rates among infants have increased, there was an overall decline in vaccination rates from 2016/2017 to 2021/2022.  

As noted earlier, the Healthy People goals are adjusted as immunization recommendations change, based on the latest science available. The 2020 goal added 4 doses of the PCV vaccine to the coverage measurements. This vaccine, which protects against certain types of pneumococcal disease is recommended for children at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months of age.

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency’s Immunization Program continues to work with its community partners, both organizations and individuals, to improve immunization rates in the County. Staff and partners are always looking for new and innovative ways to increase the effectiveness of immunization promotion and education efforts. Those efforts never cease; every year there is always a new population of babies who need immunizations to protect them from serious, vaccine-preventable diseases. 

Adolescents
RDD Results

·      There were lower vaccination rates of Tdap, meningococcal, hepatitis A, and varicella among San Diego adolescents , in 2021/2022 , compared to RDD 2016/2017 and compared to the state and the national average.

·       Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage among 13–17-year-olds increased , in 2021 /2022, as compared to 2016/ 2017.

·       HPV vaccine coverage among adolescents is on par with national rates, but below California rates.

 

Linkage to HP 2020 Objectives

·       The percentage of San Diego County adolescents who received at least two doses of varicella vaccine fell short of the Healthy People 2020 coverage objective (82% and 90% respectively).

·       Coverage rates among male and female 13-17-year-olds for at least two doses of HPV vaccine were 23% lower than the Healthy People 2020 coverage objective of 80% for males and 90% for females.

·       The Healthy People 2020 objective of at least one dose of meningococcal vaccine among 80% of 13-17-year-olds was met.

·       Only half of San Diego County 13-17-year-olds received a dose of seasonal influenza vaccine which is below the Healthy People 2020 coverage objective of 80%.

 

 

Healthy People 2030 Objectives

·       Increase the proportion of adolescents who get recommended doses of the HPV vaccine (target is 80%).

·       Increase the proportion of people who get the flu vaccine every year (target is 70%).

 

 

The graph below shows coverage rates for adolescents (9-17 years old). Like the preceding results, the vaccine coverage rates in the latest survey were compared to previous measurements to determine what progress has been made over the years. 

 

Adults
 RDD Results

·       Older adults (60+) in San Diego had higher influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates in 2016/2017 than in 2021/2022.

·       Herpes Zoster vaccination rate among adults (60+) was higher in 2021/2022 compared to 2016/2017. 

·       Pneumococcal vaccination rates dropped significantly from 2016/2017 to 2021/2022.

·       Overall, San Diego vaccination rates among adults 18+ were higher compared to CA and the national average.

 

Linkage to HP 2020 Objectives

·       Adults in San Diego had higher coverage for influenza vaccine than the national results (58.9% and 45.2%, respectively).

·       Compared to the national results, adults in San Diego had lower coverage for the pneumococcal vaccine (59.9% compared to 69.0%). 

Healthy People 2030 Objectives

  • Increase the proportion of people who get the flu vaccine every year (target is 70%).

The graph below contains coverage rates for the influenza vaccine for adults (18+). Like the preceding results, the vaccine coverage rates in the latest survey were compared to previous measurements to illustrate changes from 2016/2017 to 2021/2022. 

The graph below contains rates for influenza vaccinations for adult age 18+. There was a slight decrease in vaccination rates for adults who were 65 years and older from 2016/2017 to 2021/2022.

Pregnant Women
RDD Results

  • Among pregnant women, 49.5% of those sampled received Tdap during pregnancy, which is a decrease from 57.1% in 2016-2017.
  • Among persons who live in the households of pregnant women or mothers of children under the age of three, all individuals in 53.5% of households had received Tdap, an increase from 43.0% in 2016-2017.
  • Influenza vaccination coverage before, during, or after pregnancy was 65.7%, a decrease from 68.6% in 2016-2017.

Linkage to HP 2020 Objectives

At 65.7%, influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant SD individuals did not meet the Healthy People 2020 goal of 80%.

Healthy People 2030 Objectives

·       Increase the proportion of women who get the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy (target in development)

The Immunization Unit of the Public Health Services department, in the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, continues to work with its community partners, both organizations and individuals, to improve immunization rates in the County. Staff and partners are always looking for new and innovative ways to increase the effectiveness of immunization promotion and education efforts. Those efforts never cease; every year there is a new population who need immunizations to protect them from serious, vaccine-preventable diseases. 

For more information about the telephone immunization survey, please contact us at  (619) 692-5656 .

References:

1.     Robinson CL; Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), ACIP Child/Adolescent Immunization Work Group. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Recommended Immunization Schedules for Persons Aged 0 Through 18 years-United States, 2016. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Rep. 2016 Feb 5; 65(4):86-7.             

2.    Kim DK, Bridges CB, Harriman KH; Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), ACIP Adult Immunization Work Group. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older-United States, 2016. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Rep. 2016 Feb 5; 65(4):88-90. 

3.   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ChildVaxView Interactive! [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. [updated 2020 Sep 28;   cited 2023 Aug 18]. Available from: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/childvaxview/data-reports/index

4.   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. TeenVaxView Interactive! [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. 2008-   [updated 2021 May        14; cited 2023 Aug 21]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/teenvaxview/data-reports/index.html.

5.   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. FluVaxView Interactive! [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. 2009-   [updated 2017 Sep 28; cited 2018 Feb 13]. Available from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/interactive.htm.

6.   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AdultVaxView Interactive! [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/adultvaxview/data-reports/index.html

7.   Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Healthy People 2030. Available from Vaccination - Healthy People 2030 | health.gov

8.    Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger — United States, 2023 MMWR. 2023 / 72(6);137–40.

9.   Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older — United States, 2023 MMWR. 2023 / 72(6);141–4.

For more information or to request materials,
contact the San Diego Immunization Unit via e-mail or call us at (866) 358-2966.