Arizona lagging behind in national immunization rates

March of Dimes urges parents to immunize their children

PHOENIX – In preparation for National Immunization Month August 1 -31, The March of Dimes Arizona Chapter is urging parents to fully immunize their children as Arizona is not meeting national immunization rates set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC recommends that states have a 90 percent immunization rate where Arizona is severely lagging behind with a rate of only 76.4 percent.

“It is a critical public health issue that all children get vaccinated, as it affects not only them but the entire population,” said Diane Zipley, State Director of Programs and Public Affairs, March of Dimes Arizona Chapter. “Serious diseases that were previously thought to be eradicated in the United States including measles are returning due to low vaccination rates. Arizona must catch up for the good of our children and the communities they live in.”

Despite recent gains in infant immunization coverage, more than 31 percent of the nation’s two-year-olds are not fully immunized against infectious diseases to which they are especially vulnerable. In Arizona, more than 30 percent of young children are under-immunized and unprotected, and especially at risk when school age is reached. Arizona is one of 15 states where school and childcare entry requirements are not directly aligned with the Centers for Disease Control National Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, falling well below that national immunization standard of 90 percent. This is not an acceptable rate for Arizona to fall under. March of Dimes and its affiliated physicians believe now is the time to protect the children of Arizona and their future.

“The unnecessary death of even one child from a vaccine-preventable disease is tragic,” said Dr. Michael McQueen, neonatologist at Banner Estrella Hospital, CEO and founder of Good Night Pediatrics. “We have seen unfortunate increases of some of these illnesses recently in Arizona such as pertussis (whooping cough), measles, and pneumococcal disease. Parents, along with the public health system, must do their part to protect their own.”

Public participation in immunization programs is critical to their effectiveness. Protection is greatly affected by rates of immunization; the more people immunized, the less the risk of exposure to and from vaccine-preventable infections. This collective effect is called herd or community immunity. In recent decades when immunization levels have dropped in various populations, otherwise preventable infectious diseases have made dramatic comebacks. Pertussis and measles levels should approach 94 percent before herd immunity becomes effective.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, throughout the past decade cases of pertussis (whopping cough) have continued to grow across Arizona with hundreds of cases reported annually. In February 2008, an outbreak of measles occurred in Pima County which was declared a public health emergency and which could have been avoided.

Parents are urged to make sure their children’s’ vaccinations are completely up-to-date and compliant with current recommendations set by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Following the ACIP schedule is the best way to ensure children are protected against deadly diseases. To learn more about National Immunization Month and immunization standards, visit www.MarchOfDimes.com/Arizona.

Published on behalf of March of Dimes Arizona Chapter
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. To learn more about the March of Dimes visit www.MarchOfDimes.com/Arizona.

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