Estimating Vaccine Hesitancy in Colorado by Using Immunization Information System Data

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Immunization Science

Background:

• Vaccine hesitancy poses a significant threat to global public health.
• Understanding and quantifying vaccine hesitancy is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify vaccine hesitancy in Colorado using immunization records.
• To analyze the distribution of vaccine-hesitant populations among healthcare providers.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS).
• Examined immunization records for children aged 2 to 9 months.
• Compared doses received per visit against Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations.
• Assessed up-to-date vaccination status by 35 months for different hesitancy groups.

Main Results:

• 2.6% of 201,450 patients consistently limited vaccine doses.
• 82.9% of patients received all recommended doses without limitation.
• 11.8% limited doses at only one visit, and 2.8% at multiple but not all visits.
• Significant differences in vaccine hesitancy prevalence were found among Colorado vaccination providers.

Conclusions:

• Immunization information systems provide valuable data for state-level vaccine hesitancy research.
• Further research should explore temporal trends and geographic/socioeconomic factors influencing vaccine hesitancy.