For Immediate Release
July 9, 2020
Contact:
Alex Rossman
arossman@mlpp.org
Cell: 517-775-9053
New report analyzes county and statewide data to determine solutions
LANSING—Vaccination rates among toddlers in Michigan were at their highest in 2017, but have been declining for two years straight, which is cause for concern according to a new report from the Michigan League for Public Policy and Data Driven Detroit. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates have dipped even further during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating higher risk for the spread of other contagious, communicable diseases—and preventable ones at that.
The report, “Childhood Vaccines in Michigan,” analyzes data over time, with interactive maps that track immunization data for each county in Michigan going back to 2008. While overall rates are up statewide from 2008, the decline over the last few years is a concern. Looking at county data, a number of counties have had their vaccination rates plateau or even dip in the past few years.
By 2019, declining vaccination rates nationally led to the greatest number of measles cases in the U.S. since 1992. In Michigan, children as young as 8 months old were affected by the outbreak.
“Dips like this are concerning because vaccines are about public health,” said Kelsey Perdue, Kids Count in Michigan Project Director. “Herd immunity protects everyone from contagious diseases—but the exact rate of immunity to protect a population varies depending on the disease, so any dip in vaccination rates is a threat. Last year’s measles outbreak prompted us to look more closely at the data to find patterns.”
And as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, rates have decreased further due to delayed appointments, shifts in resources and other complications. As the state opens back up and people loosen social distancing efforts, additional outbreaks not just of COVID-19 but of communicable diseases across the board may follow.
According to the report, the right policies can improve public health issues like vaccinations. When Michigan updated immunization requirements for schools and the Affordable Care Act required healthcare plans to cover the cost in 2010, increased vaccination rates followed. A policy put in place in 2015 required parents to attend educational sessions in order to receive nonmedical vaccination waivers, which was also followed by increased vaccination rates.
“But we need to continue to move the needle on this, pun intended,” Perdue added. “We know, for example, that paid family leave policies give parents time to take their kids to multiple appointments without losing income. And paid leave is a proven solution for a lot of the problems facing families and kids, so we’d love to see Michigan push for more workplace policies like this.”
Michigan’s kindergartners have a vaccination exemption rate almost double the national estimate, at 4.5 percent (national is 2.5 percent). Part of the reason for this is undoubtedly the spread of misinformation and confusion and related, unsubstantiated concerns around vaccines. The report points to a 2019 Gallup poll that shows 46 percent of Americans are unsure whether autism and vaccinations are linked, and 10 percent said vaccines cause autism.
“There is a lot of misinformation about immunizations, and data can be a powerful tool in helping us ground what can be really emotional and personal conversations. We’re encouraging people to use this report and the maps inside it to understand the issue from a local perspective so that they can make an informed choice about the health of their kids,” said Stephanie Quesnelle, senior research analyst at Data Driven Detroit.
The report also features an interactive map to view immunization rates for kindergartners in Detroit Public Schools.
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The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on economic opportunity for all. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
The Kids Count in Michigan project is part of a broad national effort to improve conditions for children and their families. Funding for the project is provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, Steelcase Foundation, Michigan Education Association, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Ruth Mott Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, DTE Energy Foundation, Ford Motor Company Fund, and the Battle Creek Community Foundation. More state and local data are available at the Kids Count Data Center, www.datacenter.kidscount.org
DataDriven Detroit (D3), is metro Detroit’s community data hub. We believe that data drives informed decision-making. So, we work on a number of fronts to ensure people and institutions have access to high-quality data to inform critical decisions about their neighborhoods, cities and region. We consult on small- and large-scale data projects with nonprofits, universities, government agencies, community groups, businesses and individuals. We also maintain a comprehensive web-based Open Data Portal, as well as a variety of free, publicly accessible digital and analog resources to the community.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Jacob Kaplan 
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
