BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Vermont Health Department says the state is continuing to have the lowest rate of pre-term births in the nation.
The most recent numbers came in the March of Dimes 2014 Premature Birth Report Card.
The health department says Vermont was one of only five states to receive a score of "A,'' and has received the highest score on the report card for the past seven years.
Vermont's rate of 8.1 percent off all live births followed by California, New Hampshire, Maine and Oregon. The states were the only ones to receive an "A'' from the March of Dimes.
The national number is 11.4 percent.
Health Commissioner Tracy Dolan says the report is a point of pride for Vermont health officials.