NEWS RELEASE
JULY 20 , 1998

Michigan Again Increases Immunization State Ranking

Governor John Engler today announced that Michigan continues its progress toward full immunization for two year old children against deadly diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released its 1997 state immunization levels. Previous CDC studies showed Michigan last in the nation in the number of two-year-olds vaccinated. In 1996, Michigan was 37th in the nation and in 1997 Michigan ranked 29th, with five other states.

"In 1991, the immunization rate for children was a dismal 42 percent," said Engler. "We have been aggressive in our efforts to educate families on the life-saving importance of immunizations. Our success in immunizing children clearly means we are on the right path."

The CDC report showed Michigan immunization levels at 77 percent and the City of Detroit at 70 percent. These CDC figures are very close to previous Michigan Department of Community Health surveys that show immunization levels statewide at 79.8% and the City of Detroit at 66.3 percent for 1997.

"In 1996, Michigan made the most dramatic increase in immunizations of any state in the nation," said Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman. "We are pleased that in 1997 we again increased our ranking among other states."

The CDC reported that 84% of Michigan children have received all vaccinations except for their fourth shot of Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTP). Michigan would significantly increase its immunization levels if all children who received three doses of DTP would also get their fourth dose.

"Michigan has a clear opportunity to raise the overall level of immunization by assuring that children receive their fourth dose of DTP between the ages of 12 and 18 months. The Michigan Childhood Immunization Registry will be an important tool in reaching these children," said Engler.

Michigan is the first state in the nation to implement a comprehensive statewide immunization registry that is accessible to all providers in both the public and the private sectors.

The Michigan Childhood Immunization Registry will greatly assist in increasing the number of children who are immunized.

The registry is a network of regional systems that cover the entire state. Each arm of the network maintains a database of information that will give providers a child's vaccination history so they can determine what immunizations must still be delivered. It will also enable recall, which notifies parents when their child is due for another immunization so they can schedule an appointment to have it completed.

Children do not typically have as many visits to the doctor in their second year of life as in the first, and so the opportunities for children to be immunized are fewer. The Michigan Childhood Immunization Registry will assist parents and physicians in assuring that the fourth and final dose of DTP is administered. Parents are always encouraged to check each two-year-old's immunization record to make sure their child has had 3 doses of polio vaccine, 1 dose of a Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine (MMR) , and 4 doses of Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis vaccine (DTP). In addition, hepatitis B vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, and varicella vaccine are recommended for all children.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Truscott
July 20, 1998 (517) 335-6397