The overall immunization rate of Allegheny County students for the school year was 96.7%. In Allegheny County, 79% of all schools met the Healthy People 2020 goal of 95% immunity coverage in the school year. The overall coverage rate has been on a slight, but consistent decrease since 2011, when the overall coverage was 97.2%. From , religious/moral/ethical exemptions increased from 1.6% to 2.0%. In Allegheny County, public schools had higher immunization coverage than private schools for kindergarten and 7 th grade. Compared to Pennsylvania, Allegheny County either matched or had higher immunization coverage for kindergarten and 7 th grade. Immunizations are regarded as one of the most important public health achievements. In the Healthy People 2020 goals, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommended that 95% of students should have received specified immunizations. The Allegheny County Health Department has immunization requirements for students enrolled in any school, unless the students possess an exemption. There are two types of exemptions; medical and religious/moral/ethical. For students entering kindergarten, the required immunizations are MMR, VZV, Hep B, Polio, and DT. Students entering 7 th grade are required to have one dose each of the MCV4 and Tdap vaccines. Students may begin the school year provisionally enrolled by having at least one dose of each required vaccine and a plan to receive the remaining doses within 8 months. The objective was to analyze the submitted data and compile a report illustrating the immunization coverage of students in Allegheny County. RESULTS METHODS BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Immunization Coverage of Allegheny County School Students Allegheny County Health Department: Pittsburgh Summer Institute in Applied Public Health Presenter: Michael Sharbaugh, Faculty Advisor: Maria Brooks, PhD, Internship Preceptor: Stephen Forest, MPH DATA TABLES CONCLUSIONS Allegheny County Health Department, Article X: School Health Immunization. Accessed July 16, 2015; Available from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ten Great Public Health Achievements in the 20th Century, April Accessed September 20, 2015, Available from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 28 Pa. Code Part III, Ch. 23, Subch C § School Reporting. Accessed July 16, 2015, Available from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2020 Objectives: Immunization and Infectious Diseases, July 2015, Accessed July 16, 2015, Available from objectives/topic/immunization-and-infectious-diseases/objectives Data was collected via an online survey tool in the fall and spring from all schools within Allegheny County. Data was also requested from the Pennsylvania Department of Health for kindergarten and 7 th grade. Analysis was performed by grade levels and school type. School type was consistent with prior years. Over the past five school years through , the following statistics were described: Overall immunization coverage Rates of exemptions Comparison of public and private schools within Allegheny County for kindergarten and 7 th grade Comparison of Allegheny County and Pennsylvania for kindergarten and 7 th grade. The high immunization coverage of Allegheny County school students should be considered an accomplishment, especially the high percentage of schools meeting the Healthy People 2020 goal. However, the overall coverage rate has been trending slightly downward over the last 5 years while religious/moral/ethical exemptions have been increasing slightly. This trend should be monitored to determine if a public health intervention should be implemented. Additionally, there is room for improvement by increasing the number of schools meeting the Healthy People 2020 goal and increasing the percentage of kindergarten students who are fully immunized upon enrollment. REFERENCES