Jacklyn Chandler, M.S., Outreach Coordinator, MDHHS Division of Immunization

Vaccines have greatly decreased or eradicated many infectious diseases that commonly harmed many infants, children, and adults. However, the viruses and bacteria that cause vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) still exist and can be easily passed on to people who are not fully protected by vaccines. The success of a vaccine in protecting communities depends entirely on the extent of vaccine coverage. With enough people immunized against a disease, it is difficult for the disease to get a foothold in the community.
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Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institute of Health, in his blog outlines a study on birth year and influenza immunity.  In a study that looked at cases of bird flu in six countries in Asia and the Middle East between 1997 and 2015, an NIH-supported research team found that people born before 1968 were at lower risk of becoming seriously ill or dying from the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus than were those born afterwards. Just the opposite was true of another emerging strain of bird flu. People born before 1968 were at greater risk of becoming seriously ill or dying of H7N9, while those born after that date were more often protected.
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