MMWR News Synopsis

Articles

Percentage of Adolescents Meeting Federal Fruit and Vegetable Intake Recommendations — Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, United States, 2017

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Consuming fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet can help prevent many chronic diseases, but just 2% of U.S. high school students eat enough vegetables, and just 7% eat enough fruit. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables contain many important nutrients, and getting enough of them may reduce the risk of getting some chronic diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and obesity. A healthy diet is also important for healthy growth in adolescence. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends minimum daily intake of 1.5 cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of vegetables for adolescent females aged 14–18 years and 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables for adolescent males aged 14–18 years. However, few U.S. high-school students eat enough fruits and vegetables to meet the USDA recommendations. In 2017, 7% met fruit intake recommendations, and 2% met vegetable intake recommendations. Efforts to expand the reach of existing school and community programs as well as identify new strategies, such as social media approaches, might be needed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among adolescents to support their overall health.

Vaccination Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemption Rates Among Children in Kindergarten — United States, 2019–20 School Year

CDC Media Relations
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Data just published by CDC shows national vaccination coverage among kindergarten children during the 2019-2020 school year remained high, with about 95% getting their required vaccines. However, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to impact those rates, with reduced vaccination coverage expected in the current school year. Before schools return to in-person learning, it’s important that districts and immunization programs increase efforts to follow-up with students who are not fully vaccinated to maintain the high level of coverage necessary to protect children, families, and communities against vaccine-preventable diseases. CDC analyzed data collected by state and local immunization programs on school-entry vaccination coverage among kindergarten children in 48 states, as well as exemptions for kindergartners in 49 states, and provisional enrollment and grace-period status for kindergartners in 28 states for the 2019-2020 school year. Overall, coverage was approximately 95% for the state-required number of vaccine doses that prevent diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP), measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), and varicella. While 2.5% of kindergartners had an exemption from at least one vaccine, another 2.3% of kindergartners were not up to date for MMR and did not have a vaccine exemption. Considering the disruptions to healthcare provider operations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, extra effort will be required by healthcare providers, schools, and immunization programs to ensure all students are caught up on vaccinations in preparation for a return to in-school learning.

COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Efforts from Health Departments — United States, June 25–July 24, 2020

CDC Media Relations
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An analysis of 56 health departments found wide variation in capacity and capability to conduct timely and effective case investigation and contact tracing. The study found that case interviews were less timely and fewer contacts were identified when caseloads were higher, implying that high numbers of cases compromised the prompt and complete identification of contacts. When case investigations are delayed, notifying contacts or contact tracing will be delayed as a result. Enhanced staffing capacity and improved community engagement might reduce delays in interviewing case patients and improve identification of exposed persons through contact tracing. Case investigation and contact tracing are core public health tools used to interrupt transmission of pathogens. COVID-19 contact tracing is an attempt to contact people to notify them they may have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. To assess case investigation and contact tracing efforts done during June 25-July 24, 2020, health departments submitted baseline data on four metrics: average case load per investigator, case investigation timeliness, contact tracing timeliness, and contact tracing yield. Data showed the higher the investigator caseload, the longer it took to interview patients and identify contacts. Delays in interviewing COVID-19 patients decrease the likelihood of quickly identifying and quarantining contacts. Low ascertainment of contacts affects the nation’s potential to slow the spread of COVID-19 through rapid notification, quarantining, and testing.

COVID-19 Trends Among Persons Aged 0–24 Years — United States, March 1–December 12, 2020 (Early Release January 13, 2021)

CDC Media Relations
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Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 Lineage — United States, December 29, 2020–January 12, 2021 (Early Release January 15, 2021)

CDC Media Relations
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Evaluation of Abbott BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Test for SARS-CoV-2 Infection at Two Community-Based Testing Sites — Pima County, Arizona, November 3–17, 2020 (Early Release January 19, 2021)

CDC Media Relations
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• Emergency Department Visit Rates for Motor Vehicle Crashes, by Age Group — United States, 2018

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.