News Release
July, 15 1996

Growth Charts Track Immunizations

Colorful growth charts that contain an immunization calendar and a variety of helpful child development tips are ready for distribution to parents and grandparents, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) announced today.

"These charts are a great way to keep track of your child's growth. They also serve as a constant reminder to families about when to get that next shot," said MDCH Director James K. Haveman, Jr.

The charts display the Michigan Immunization Partnership message "Immunize Your Little Michigander," and list the ages that a child needs to be immunized from birth to 18 months. Developmental information includes milestones in motor skills, verbal ability, and other areas of growth. The charts are among key informational items aimed at increasing immunization rates in Michigan, and will be distributed to parents at participating birth hospitals and all local health departments.

Though more than 90 percent of Michigan's children are fully immunized by the time they enter school, fewer two-year-olds have received all the necessary vaccinations. Early immunization is important because children are most vulnerable before age two, when many diseases are more serious and often pose a higher risk of mortality. According to the latest estimate available from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Michigan's rate among two-year-olds was 64% for the year between mid-1994 and mid-1995. MDCH is currently conducting its own survey of the state's current immunization rates and expects encouraging news this fall.

The Michigan Immunization Partnership, a state-wide collaborative effort that has the support of more than 60 businesses, community and health groups, hopes to increase those numbers through several initiatives. They include:

• Michigan Children's Immunization Registry -- 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.
  
• Expanded capacity to help providers, both public and private, evaluate their office immunization practices to see where improvements should be made to assure full vaccination of two-year-olds who are served by their practice.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
  
• An organized structure of appropriate continuing medical education programs and services that focus on immunization.
  
• A program that prepares volunteers to educate parents and others about the importance of having babies fully immunized.
  
• Evaluation of current immunization curricula in medical and nursing education programs at Michigan universities, with the expectation that any needed revisions will be made.
  

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