Decline in Routine Childhood and Teen Immunizations in Michigan Raises Public Health Concerns

Recent research highlights a troubling decline in routine immunizations among children and adolescents across Michigan from 2017 to 2023. The study, led by Michigan Medicine and published in Pediatrics, reveals that vaccination completion rates for key pediatric vaccines have fallen notably, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, immunization rates among toddlers for vaccines covering pertussis, polio, and measles decreased from about 76% to 67%. Similarly, adolescent vaccination completion for meningitis, pertussis, and tetanus declined from approximately 81% to 75%. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination series also saw modest increases, but the growth slowed significantly after the pandemic started, raising concerns about ongoing protection against cancers caused by HPV. The study further found that counties with lower incomes and higher rates of uninsurance experienced larger declines in vaccination rates, resulting in widened disparities. The drop in immunizations coincides with a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in the U.S., including over 24 million cases prevented in 2019, and a significant rise in measles cases, which hit a 33-year high in 2025. Michigan reported more than a dozen measles cases and 855 cases of pertussis, including 152 among children under two. Experts emphasize the importance of reversing these declines through broad and targeted efforts, especially in underserved counties, to prevent future outbreaks and protect public health. These findings underscore the urgent need for renewed immunization initiatives to close gaps and sustain herd immunity across all communities.