Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to understand limitations in immunization surveys in inner-city children and understand the value of targeting subsidized preschool children as a respresentative sample of inner-city preschool children.

Background:
The immunization levels in poor and minority populations lag behind that of non-poor and Caucasian populations. Immunization rates in inner cities are not well characterized across the United States except by isolated studies in a few urban areas. The major immunization survey for urban areas, the NIS, has multiple methodologic flaws in inner-city samples, limiting its usefulness.

Objectives:
Measure immunization levels in poor inner-city children ages 19-25 months in subsizided day care and compare this sample population to the larger population of inner-city preschool children in Jacksonville.

Methods:
We collected demographic and immunization data on 250 poor children in 10 daycare centers in inner-city jacksonville. We compared the demographic characteristics of this sample to the larger inner-city preschool population in Jacksonville.

Results:
Up-to-date rates at 12 months was 71% for 3:2:2:2 and 67% for 4:3:1:3 at 24 months of age. The demographic characteristics of this sample was found to be comparable to and representative of preschool children in the poorest zip codes in Jacksonville.

Conclusions:
Poor children in day care are underimmunized and are representative of the general poor, inner-city preschool population. It is an identifiable population that could be used to assess inner-city immunization rates and can be targeted for interventions to raise rates in the inner-city areas.