Public health leaders are pleading with Michigan parents to ‘Catch Up’ on vaccines before heading back to school

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Vaccination rates for Michigan children ages 19 to 36 months have fallen below 70% in more than half of the state (43 of 83 counties), according to June 2022 data from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR). In seven Michigan counties and the City of Detroit, the rate has dropped below 60%.

Vaccination coverage in adolescents also remains low, with only 42.5% of the state’s 13-to-18-year old’s having received all required and recommended vaccinations. This dip in vaccination coverage coincides with the United States’ first polio case in almost a decade, and a return of near normal back-to-school practices with COVID vaccines available to everyone six months and older.

The 10 areas of the state with the lowest vaccination rates for children ages 19 to 36 months are: Oscoda County (28.9%), the City of Detroit (47.2%), Keweenaw County (52.4%), Gladwin County (57.9%), Leelanau County (58.4%), Iron County (58.5%), Sanilac County (58.8%), Branch County (61.2%) and Cass County (61.2%).

It is because of these numbers that Michigan public health leaders are urging parents to get their children caught up on vaccinations prior to returning to in-person classes this fall, to prevent outbreaks of serious communicable diseases such as measles, mumps, pertussis, chickenpox and more.

“While we’ve mostly seen outbreaks associated with COVID or flu in recent years due to school closures from the pandemic, other vaccine-preventable diseases are still a very real risk to schools,” said Dr. Joseph Fakhoury, paediatric hospitalist at Bronson Children’s Hospital. “Historically, we’ve seen the effects that these diseases have on children and families, and they continue to pose a risk even today.”

“We can send our kids to school safely this year by getting them caught up on the CDC-recommended vaccination schedule before the first day, so we can minimize the spread of preventable diseases,” said Veronica McNally, President of the Franny Strong Foundation and founder of the I Vaccinate campaign. “As a mother myself, I’m asking parents to take this opportunity before school begins to protect their little ones, as well as their classmates, through vaccination.”

The CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone six months of age and older as part of the recommended vaccination childhood and adolescent schedules. As of August 3^rd, 2022 51.1% of 16-to-19-year old’s, 45.8% of 12-to-15-year old’s and 26.7% of 5-to-11-year old’s have completed the COVID-19 vaccine series.

What is interesting is that instead of speaking to parents about why they might be hesitant, these public health leaders instead are urging parents to inject their children against their will. In 2016, all 50 states allowed medical exemptions for certain patients, such as those who were immunocompromised or allergic to various vaccine components. Additionally, there were 30 states that allowed exemptions for children whose parents cited religious reasons, and 18 states that made special accommodations for those expressing philosophical reasons.

In one study, 77% of parents polled reported having concerns about one or more childhood vaccinations. Reasons expressed by parents vary widely, but can be classified into four overarching categories: religious reasons, personal beliefs or philosophical reasons, safety concerns, and a desire for more information from healthcare providers.

Religious reasons tended to account for the majority of total vaccine refusal, while parents with personal beliefs against immunization tended to be more willing to compromise and at least partially vaccinate their children. Let’s be honest, if you are a parent, you are concerned with doing the best for your children, and hearing reports of potential safety issues, or that childhood diseases are not a large threat will make you think twice about vaccinating your children.

What seems to be happening on a local scale in this case is something now being termed as “vaccine nationalism.” Experts in epidemiology, virology, and the social sciences — not politicians — should be taking the lead in devising and implementing science-based strategies to reduce the risks that COVID-19 and other diseases pose to the most vulnerable across the globe.

To avoid ineffective nationalistic responses, we need a centralized, trusted governance system to ensure the appropriate flow of capital, information, and supplies.