Timely childhood vaccination in Israel: a national retrospective study of ethnic and socioeconomic disparities.

This article focuses on ethnic and socioeconomic differences in timely childhood immunization in Israel, where vaccines are provided free of charge through Maternal Child Health Clinics (MCHC). Analysis of data from 2015 to 2018 showed that Arab children had higher rates of age-appropriate vaccination for measles–mumps–rubella–varicella (MMR(V)) by 13 months (82%) and four doses of diphtheria–pertussis–tetanus–polio–Haemophilus influenzae type B (DPT-IPV-Hib) by 18 months (92%) compared to Jewish children (61% and 75%, respectively). While Arab children in the most peripheral (rural) areas had lower vaccination rates, Jewish children in urban and higher socioeconomic status (SES) groups exhibited lower adherence, particularly for MMR vaccination. Ethnic group was significantly associated with vaccination rates, whereas SES and geographic peripherality were not independently significant, highlighting the need for targeted public health efforts to improve timely immunization across different communities to achieve herd immunity.