Parents may play vital role in tracking children's vaccination schedules

Keeping toddlers' immunization records in parental hands may help guarantee that the children do not skip any shots, according to a study published online on February 15 in Pediatrics.

Results of the study showed that when parents kept track of vaccinations, the chances of children being caught up with immunizations was significantly higher than if parents didn't keep track (P<.0001).

By reviewing national vaccination data, the investigators discovered that approximately 81% of children aged 19 to 35 months were considered up-to-date according to national guidelines. Additionally, they found that of the approximately 41% of toddlers who had a vaccination record, 84% had up-to-date vaccinations. By contrast, only 79% of the children without a vaccination record had all of their shots.