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Public health officials

Michigan Childhood Vaccination Rates Plummet, Officials Warn of Epidemic Risks

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the school year begins, health officials in Michigan are sounding the alarm over a concerning drop in childhood vaccination rates, particularly in the state's 10 counties with the lowest vaccination rates. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for the state of Michigan, urged parents to ensure their children are up-to-date on recommended vaccinations before returning to classes this fall. According to the Michigan Care Improvement Registry, vaccination rates for children ages 19 to 36 months have fallen below 70% in more than half of the state's 83 counties, putting schools and communities at risk for outbreaks of serious communicable diseases.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 10 areas of the state with the lowest vaccination rates for children ages 19 to 36 months are Keweenaw County (36.8%), Oscoda County (38.2%), Mackinac County (54.2%), Houghton County (55.4%), Gladwin County (55.6%), the City of Detroit (55.7%), Lake County (57.8%), Clare County (58.8%), Sanilac County (58.9%), and Baraga County (59.1%).
  • In February of this year, Michigan reported its first case of measles in five years, with six additional cases reported in 2024, and annual reported cases of whooping cough double what they were for all of 2023.
  • Michigan tracks each school's vaccination data, which can be accessed by parents and others seeking to assess their child's risk.
  • As a mother herself, Veronica McNally, president of the Franny Strong Foundation and founder of the I Vaccinate campaign, is asking parents to take this opportunity before school begins to protect their children, as well as their classmates, through vaccination.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommend the COVID-19 vaccine and an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as part of the recommended vaccination schedule.

Statistics:

  • 47 of 83 counties have vaccination rates for children ages 19 to 36 months below 70%.
  • The number of Michigan elementary schools with kindergarten vaccination rates below 70% increased from 2015 to 2023, from 86 to 109 schools.
  • The number of Michigan middle schools with 7th grade vaccination rates below 70% more than doubled (from 48 to 110 schools).
  • Only 70.2% of children aged 19 to 36 months have completed their recommended doses in the primary childhood vaccine series.
  • The number of annual reported cases of whooping cough double what they were for all of 2023.

Sources:

  • (https://michiganadvance.com/2024/08/22/fda-greenlights-new-covid-vaccine-after-a-summer-of-rising-numbers-of-cases/)
  • (https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv/childrenfamilies/immunization/localhealthdepartment/school-immunization-data)
  • (https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.yD4iwa7cueO7EBy-2FjNYBBVPqy7MPjwE3ig381i8li7RK3tJWvIumtc1B9rkm-2BRvk7JcTX3iO8iglku9CmVkTaZ90B-2FX0ProBep3mz8ATtBg-3DxLu7_fIS-2B8mSRA64z9QQn0Jrgwix8AvOfybewRp0ncA2Xx3Y-2FewA-2Bb8bgy94dgBG0XFOIYLbMxQr53-2FCgJQsVN7Xs0EfbRc56go2S22X-2Fp25nk2FJq6wRYEqbxw0Z9QXQMWUYdVW1HFEAktDh7GZ-2FDx6d7lKqzxasMgkxEOCCdTPXD5-2Fb1BohZVYt-2BGzrqSt0myw5G7c9GhxF7-2F8zLj-2Fq2OcIJGNb-2BYDmSEbpvEcBer7UdgjMiKPMavBME3Lmh-2B5LaHBeDUpiuBBxewnUL-2B6tq8gO39IfN7upe01cpgR0x-2BtoaeXkOYX-2F0f7AoDKyF7b3xSJaE66O8sINPo4J7GVa3V33iVQ2MJsHdLY9lA3rhYf3-2FLlHtikA-2BlCClzt3QLCkTFIGMB7YOByzc5cBWK1v0Rje-2FA-3D-3D)
  • (https://michiganadvance.com/briefs/michigan-health-dept-confirms-first-case-of-measles-since-2019/)

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