NEWS RELEASE
June 20, 1996

Michigan Gains In Immunizations, Report Shows

Michigan's immunization rate among two-year-olds is 64%, up from 61%, according to a new federal estimate. The latest quarterly update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was issued today. The report covers immunization rates through June of 1995. It does not reflect the effects of recent initiatives by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), which are expected to result in a further rise in immunization rates.

By the time they enter school, more than 95% of all Michigan children are in compliance with immunization requirements. Early childhood immunizations became a special focus after a national measles epidemic in the late 80s and early 90s. Full immunization before the age of two is important because many diseases are more serious before age two and often pose a higher risk of mortality.

"It is gratifying to see that these latest numbers continue to head in the right direction," said David Johnson, MD, Chief Medical Executive of the Community Public Health Agency of MDCH. "The data in this estimate are as much as two years old. We need better data that will tell us what our rate is currently. One of our initiatives to raise the rate is to complete our own survey that will give us 1996 numbers. That program is currently underway, and we expect to have some encouraging news in the fall."

Another initiative, the Michigan Children's Immunization Registry, moved closer to implementation with a request for proposals that has been released to potential bidders. Regional provider coalitions that are interested in bidding to operate the local arm of the network will meet June 20 to get more information. The registry will be a locally-accessed network of regional systems that will cover the entire state. Each arm of the network will maintain a database of information that will give public and private providers a child's vaccination history so they can determine what immunizations must still be delivered. It will also enable tracking and recall, a function that notifies parents that their child is due for another immunization so they can schedule an appointment to have it completed.

Other initiatives are underway in collaboration with the Michigan Immunization Partnership, a group of more than 60 organizations representing professional medical societies, public and private providers, business, industry, and other interested parties. The initiatives include:

• Expanded capacity to help providers, both public and private, evaluate their office immunization practices to see where improvements should be made. This is a partnership of the Alliance for Immunization in Michigan, the Michigan Nurses Association, MDCH, and other groups.
• Initiation of a system that will allow WIC clinics to determine the current status of immunization for the 140,000 children under two whom they serve each year. If a child's immunizations are not current, a WIC clinic nurse may administer a needed vaccination at that visit or the child may be referred to another provider. Pilot programs are underway in Oakland, Muskegon, Calhoun, Berrien, Cass and VanBuren counties.
• Implementation of an organized structure of appropriate continuing medical education programs and services that focus on immunization. This program is being developed in partnership with the Michigan State Medical Society, the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, MDCH, and other state and local medical organizations.
• Development of a program that prepares volunteers to educate parents and others about the importance of having babies fully immunized. The program will be a partnership of the MSU Cooperative Extension Service and MDCH.
• A public information campaign to encourage parents to check with their physician at each visit to make sure their baby's immunizations are up to date. The campaign is a collaborative project of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, the Michigan Association of Local Public Health, the state-wide network of Blue Care Network HMOs, General Motors, Health Plus and MDCH.
• Evaluation of current immunization curricula in medical and nursing education programs at Michigan universities, with the expectation that any needed revisions will be made. This is a joint project of MDCH, MSU and Ferris State University in collaboration with the deans of professional health schools at universities in Michigan.

Michigan will spend approximately $25 million on immunization this year through these initiatives, other local programs, and vaccine acquisition and distribution.