Trends and disparities in birth vaccination in the United States: a nationwide study

This study evaluated racial, geographic, and regional disparities in neonatal vaccination rates across the US from 2016 to 2021.

Data from the National Inpatient Survey, accessed via the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, were analyzed for hospitalized births between 2016 and 2021. Vaccination rates were stratified by race/ethnicity, US Census divisions, and urban versus rural residence. Trends were also compared before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Significant disparities were observed. Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander infants had the highest vaccination rates, while White infants had the lowest. Urban areas had higher rates than rural counterparts. The West-South Central division showed the highest rates of neonatal vaccination, whereas the West-North Central and East-North Central had the lowest rates. The rate of increase in vaccination coverage slowed after the pandemic.

Notable disparities in birth vaccination rates exist across racial and geographic lines in the US. These findings emphasize the impact of structural and demographic factors on vaccine uptake and the urgent need for targeted public health interventions to promote equitable immunization.