The Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment has further strengthened its commitment to children's
health by instating the requirement that children attending licensed child
care facilities receive the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine,
Prevnar(R), a vaccine that helps provide protection against invasive
pneumococcal disease, a major cause of morbidity and mortality among
infants and young children. In recognition of National Immunization
Awareness Month, Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition (CCIC) fully
endorses this regulation and encourages parents and guardians to get their
children vaccinated before childcare entry.
"Children attending daycare facilities are at a higher risk for
pneumococcal disease," said Lydia McCoy, CCIC Executive Director. "The
Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition is proud to support Colorado in
helping protect our children from this life-threatening, yet vaccine-
preventable disease with timely immunizations."
All children enrolled in child care facilities in Colorado must now
receive the complete series of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, which is
already part of the childhood immunization schedule recommended by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Prevnar is
administered in a four-dose series (given at 2, 4, 6 and 12-15 months). For
previously- unvaccinated older infants and children at risk, there is a
catch-up schedule available.
Invasive pneumococcal disease is a group of potentially
life-threatening infections caused by the bacterium Streptococcus
pneumoniae, and includes bacterial meningitis, bacteremia, and bacteremic
pneumonia. Before Prevnar was available in the United States, S. pneumoniae
was estimated to be responsible for 25 percent to 40 percent of the cases
of bacterial meningitis among children. Additionally, S. pneumoniae can
cause non-invasive illnesses, such as otitis media.
"Successful vaccination programs are the best method available for
helping decrease the burden of childhood infectious diseases," Ms. McCoy
added. "The CCIC is committed to providing Colorado's children with the
healthiest start by supporting initiatives such as this immunization
requirement."
About the Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition
The mission of the Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition (CCIC) is
to ensure that Colorado children receive all recommended immunizations at
appropriate ages and therefore, children are maximally protected against
vaccine-preventable disease. The goal of CCIC is that at least ninety
percent of Colorado children will be fully immunized, and there will be no
deaths or life-altering morbidity from vaccine-preventable disease in the
state. CCIC's objectives include successfully convening and facilitating
community-based partners to better immunize local children, managing public
awareness campaigns, and presenting education for physicians, staff and
parents. These interventions are based on strategies documented in
peer-reviewed literature to effectively improve immunization rates. CCIC
has also been instrumental in addressing policy initiatives that will
better protect children from vaccine- preventable disease.
Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition
childrensimmunization
View drug information on Prevnar 13.