RESEARCH AND PRACTICE. An Evaluation of Voluntary 2-Dose Varicella Vaccination Coverage in New York City Public Schools.

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  • Additional Information
    • Subject Terms:
      LAW; CHI-squared test; CONFIDENCE intervals; EPIDEMIOLOGY; MEDICAL cooperation; HEALTH policy; MULTIVARIATE analysis; PATIENT compliance; REGRESSION analysis; RESEARCH; RESEARCH funding; CHICKENPOX vaccines; DATA analysis software; DESCRIPTIVE statistics
    • Subject Terms:
      NEW York (N.Y.); NEW York (State)
    • Abstract:
      Objectives. We assessed coverage for 2-dose varicella vaccination, which is not required for school entry, among New York City public school students and examined characteristics associated with receipt of 2 doses. Methods. We measured receipt of either at least 1 or 2 doses of varicella vaccine among students aged 4 years and older in a sample of 336 public schools (n = 223864 students) during the 2010 to 2011 school year. Data came from merged student vaccination records from 2 administrative data systems. We conducted multivariable regression to assess associations of age, gender, race/ ethnicity, and school location with 2-dose prevalence. Results. Coverage with at least 1 varicella dose was 96.2% (95% confidence interval [Cl] = 96.2%, 96.3%); coverage with at least 2 doses was 64.8% (95% Cl = 64.6%, 64.9%). Increasing student age, non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity, and attendance at school in Staten Island were associated with lower 2-dose coverage. Conclusions. A 2-dose varicella vaccine requirement for school entry would likely improve 2-dose coverage, eliminate coverage disparities, and prevent disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]