Prime Highlights
- Michigan is experiencing an epidemic of vaccine-preventable disease because of low rates of vaccination.
- Public health authorities point to urgent need for timely child vaccination to avoid epidemics.
Key Facts
- Michigan DTaP and MMR vaccine coverage remains far below 95% needed for herd immunity.
- Whooping cough and measles are spreading fast, with thousands ill throughout the state and nation.
Key Background
Michigan currently sees an explosive surge in vaccine-preventable disease, largely the result of falling rates of vaccination among children. Only 71.5% of children under the age of 3 are up to date on the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine, and 79.4% are up to date on the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Both of these are well below the 95% rate needed to cause population immunity and expose vast expanses of the public to epidemics.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is raging with a ferocity. The state alone counted over 2,000 cases during 2024, and close to 700 new ones have been reported in the initial half of 2025 so far. The disease is also spreading worldwide, with tens of thousands more cases this year compared to last year. Infants, especially those under six months and yet too young to have received the full course of injections, are most susceptible to serious disease and hospitalization.
Measles, a highly infectious viral infection, is seeing a record surge in the same manner. There are only 18 cases in Michigan in year 2025, and two active outbreaks in two counties. Measles cases nationwide have hit historical highs following more than three decades. Ninety-nine percent of those infected are either unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status and thus may require additional vaccine education and outreach.
Health care workers throughout the state report that misinformation and access, not hesitancy, are the major reasons for lower-than-expected rates of immunization. The vast majority of parents are said to trust medical providers and vaccine but are confused over conflicting information and pandemic-related disruption of routine health care services.
The doctors and healthcare workers are also encouraging families to get back into good standing with well-child visits and have children vaccinated on schedule. They contend that vaccines such as MMR are virtually 97% effective after two doses and continue to be a vital immunity for the individual and for the group.
