AUTHORS INVESTIGATE NATIONAL VACCINATION COVERAGE AMONG CHILDREN AGES 19 THROUGH 35 MONTHS National Immunization Survey (NIS) results for 2003 indicated "the highest coverage ever for all vaccines," state the authors of a report published in the July 30, 2004, issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The NIS provides estimates of vaccination coverage among children ages 19 through 35 months for each of the 50 states and 28 selected urban areas. This report summarizes NIS results for 2003. The NIS used a quarterly random-digit-dialing sample of telephone numbers for each of 78 survey areas. Responses were weighted to represent the population of children ages 19 through 35 months. During 2003, vaccination records were obtained for 21,210 children. The overall response rate for eligible households was 62.7%. The authors found that * National vaccination coverage with greater than or equal to one dose of varicella increased from 80.6% in 2002 to 84.8% in 2003. * Coverage for greater than or equal to three doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine increased from 40.9% in 2002 to 68.1% in 2003. * Coverage for greater than four doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, reported for the first time in 2003, was 36.7%. * In 2003, substantial differences remained in estimated vaccination coverage among states. Estimated coverage with the 4:3:1:3:3 series ranged from 94.0% in Connecticut to 67.5% in Colorado. * The range in coverage among the 28 urban areas was less than that among the states. Among the 28 urban areas, the highest estimated coverage for the 4:3:1:3:3 series was 88.8% in Boston, Massachusetts, and the lowest was 69.2% in Houston, Texas. The authors conclude that "maintaining the gains in vaccination coverage achieved during the 1990s among these children poses a continuing challenge for public health practitioners." They state that "continued vigilance is needed to maintain high levels of coverage, and sustained efforts will be required to reduce geographic disparities in coverage." Barker L, Santoli J, McCauley M, et al. 2004. National, state, and urban area vaccination coverage among children aged 19-35 months -- United States, 2003. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 53(29):658-661. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5329a3.htm.