Timing is everything for kids' successful immunization.

2003 AUG 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The timing of the third vaccination that children receive for diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough predicts whether children will get a fourth and final dose of the vaccine on time, according to a new study.

The final dose of the vaccine known as DTaP is especially important because it helps maintain immunity during the preschool years against easily transmitted diseases like whooping cough, said Tara W. Strine, MPH, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and colleagues, writing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The researchers suggested that physicians stress the importance of the final dose to parents with children who have received previous late doses. They also noted that updated immunization records and reminder or recall systems may help solve the problem.

The U.S. childhood immunization schedule calls for children to receive DTaP doses at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 15-18 months. Previous research indicates that the fourth dose is the most commonly missed.

After examining data from a large nationwide survey of immunization coverage, Strine and colleagues determined that children who received second and third DTaP doses on time were more likely to receive their final dose on time.

Other factors, including the mother's age, her education level, whether the child was a firstborn and the number of available vaccine providers, were also ...