Vaccine-preventable diseases and foreign-born populations.

According to the most recent census data, foreign-born individuals account for more than 12% of the US population. Because many vaccine-preventable outbreaks in the United States have been correlated with disease importation, Congress has mandated vaccinations for numerous immigrant populations. It is essential for primary care physicians to be knowledgeable about the unique immunization-related needs of foreign-born individuals to recognize some of the cultural and linguistic challenges that immigrants have accessing health care and to remember to use each medical encounter as an opportunity to provide necessary vaccinations.