Vaccine-preventable disease among homeschooled children: two cases of tetanus in Oklahoma.

Johnson, Matthew G; Bradley, Kristy K; Mendus, Susan; Burnsed, Laurence; Clinton, Rachel; Tiwari, Tejpratap · Pediatrics · 2013

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

Homeschooled children represent an increasing proportion of school-aged children in the United States. Immunization rates among homeschooled children are largely unknown because they are usually not subject to state-based school-entry vaccination requirements. Geographic foci of underimmunized children can increase the risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. In 2012, 2 cases of tetanus were reported in Oklahoma; both cases involved homeschooled children without documentation of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccination. We describe the characteristics of both patients and outline innovative outreach measures with the potential to increase vaccination access and coverage among homeschooled children.

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