Kansas’ childhood immunization rates have garnered national recognition.

The state had the second-highest increase in immunization rates for the 4:3:1:3:3:1 series between 2004 and 2007. The series consists of four doses of DTaP, or diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis, vaccine, three doses of polio vaccine, one dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, three doses of haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine, three doses of hepatitis B vaccine, and one dose of varicella vaccine.

Kansas had an 11.3 percent increase in coverage, which was much higher than the national average increase of 1.2 percent. Texas had the largest increase at 13.5 percent.

The rates are compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the annual National Immunization Survey, which provides state-level estimates of immunization coverage among 19- to 35-month-old children.