Stefanie Cole, RN, BSN, MPH, Pediatric Immunization Nurse Educator, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Division of Immunization

​When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the 2015 National Immunization Survey (NIS) data last year, Michigan was ranked 44th in the nation for pediatric immunization coverage. Only 67.6 percent of Michigan children aged 19-35 months-old are fully immunized with the 4313314 series, compared to 72.2 percent nationally.1 While this represents a modest improvement from the previous year (ranked 47th in the nation with 65.0 percent series coverage), it is unacceptable that 32.4 percent of our young children are not protected from vaccine preventable diseases.
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One by one, the viruses have slipped from their hiding places in nature to threaten global populations — SARS, MERS, Zika.
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In each case, scientists have scrambled to identify the viruses and to develop vaccines or drugs to stop their spread. After each crisis, the assessment has been the same: Countermeasures were not ready in time to help in the containment effort.
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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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