Coalition Meeting: Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Colorado's Children, Annual Report
This meeting addressed key findings and implications of the 2014 Vaccine Preventable Diseases in Colorado's Children Annual Report.
According to an independent report released by the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition (CCIC) and Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado), in 2013, Colorado ranked 45th among U.S. states for childhood immunizations, with over 27.9 percent of children under-immunized at 19-35 months of age and 538 Colorado children hospitalized with vaccine-preventable diseases resulting in $29.2 million in charges. The report, Vaccine Preventable Diseases in Colorado’s Children, also finds that vaccines have proven to be safe and effective in Colorado. In 2013, vaccination prevented nearly 31,000 cases of vaccine-preventable disease and nearly $440 million in hospitalization charges among Colorado children.
Prepared annually by Carl Armon, PhD, James Gaensbauer, MD, and James Todd, MD, from the Department of Epidemiology at Children’s Hospital Colorado, the report provides an analysis of the state of health of Colorado’s children based on the most recent National Immunization Survey (NIS), Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) discharge data and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) data. The report examines vaccination rates, hospitalizations, costs and savings associated with vaccine-preventable disease in children. The report findings show that there are significant gaps in vaccinating Colorado’s children, despite overwhelming evidence that vaccines are safe and effective.
About the Presenter:
James K. Todd, MD, completed his medical degree in 1969 and pediatric residency training in 1971, both at the University of Michigan. At the University of Colorado School of Medicine, he completed pediatric infectious diseases fellowship training in 1973 and a sabbatical in microbiology from the Department of Microbiology/ Immunology in 1974. Dr. Todd joined Children's Hospital Colorado as Director of Clinical Microbiology in 1973. In 1985 he joined the faculty of the University of Colorado School of Medicine as Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology. Since 1991 he has served as Director of Epidemiology for Children's Colorado and Section Head of Epidemiology for the Department of Pediatrics.
Dr. Todd's major scientific interests include the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of bacterial diseases, with emphasis on streptococci and staphylocci; bacterial toxin-mediated syndromes; and outcomes research. He has published numerous journal articles, book chapters, and abstracts.
Dr. Todd has been recognized, throughout his career with numerous awards, including the Career Teaching Scholar Award from the Department of Pediatrics, the Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research from the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, and the Outstanding Service Award from Children's Hospital Colorado Medical Board. He received the CCIC 2009 Big Shot of the Year Award.
