Utah Health Status Update: Vaccine Preventable Diseases, 2011

摘要

Vaccines are considered one of the greatest achievements in public health. The first vaccine was developed in 1796 against smallpox, and by 1900, vaccines against rabies, typhoid, cholera, and plague were created. Widespread use of these and additional vaccines throughout the 20th century has contributed to a worldwide decrease of illness and death due to infectious diseases. National vaccination coverage began decreasing in 2008, but 2010 combined childhood series figures from the National Immunization Survey (NIS), indicate that trend has reversed and coverage in the U.S. increased from 69.9% in 2009 to 74.9%. In Utah, NIS figures show decreased coverage. From 2008 to 2010, rates dropped from 76.6% to 69.5%.1 An increase in measles and pertussis cases seen in Utah during 2011 may be a direct result of this decrease in vaccine coverage. The number of selected vaccine preventable diseases reported in Utah over the past three years is detailed in this document. This report will discuss the measles outbreak in the spring of 2011 and the increasing pertussis activity in Utah.