Vaccines play an important role in keeping us healthy. They protect us from serious and sometimes deadly diseases.¹ The increase in child life expectancy is largely due to reductions of mortality by infectious diseases through the administration of vaccines. Early childhood immunization has been proven to be a safe and cost-effective means of controlling vaccine-preventable diseases.  In the last 50 years, vaccinations have led to a 95% decrease in vaccine-preventable diseases.

The DOH strives to increase vaccination coverage rates among children ages 19 through 35 months to 90 percent. To do this, DOH has been collaborating with numerous stakeholders through a statewide coalition to promote age appropriate immunizations, as well as working with birthing hospitals to develop and update policies and procedures regarding the administration of the HBV birth dose.  In addition, educational efforts continue to be directed toward healthcare providers, the public, and school officials to highlight the importance of timely, age-appropriate vaccination to protect the health of the individual and communities. 

The DOH has developed and maintains the NJ Immunization Information System (NJIIS), the State's official web-based immunization registry designed to store immunization information for infants, children, adolescents and adults for a lifetime. NJIIS assists public health agencies with population assessments in the event of a preventable disease outbreak and helps communities assess their immunization coverage and identify pockets of need. In addition, the DOH promotes the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) which was created to meet the vaccination needs of children from birth through 18 years of age. Patients eligible to receive VFC vaccines are children who are American Indian or Alaskan Native, enrolled in Medicaid or Medicaid Managed Care, enrolled in NJ Family Care (Plan A only), and are underinsured.

Final Assessment

The target for birth dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine was the only Healthy NJ 2030 Immunization target achieved.

For more information, please refer to these resources:

• NJ Immunization Requirements 
• CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
• Healthy People 2020

Reference:

1. Vaccine Basics. Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, USHHS. 4/29/21.