This article was posted by the Detroit Free Press. Read more here.
Public health officials are urging Michigan parents to check their children’s immunization records before the new school year begins, citing higher rates of vaccine waivers as the U.S. experiences its worst measles year in more than three decades.
With some Michigan schools reopening as early as Aug. 17, health leaders said the weeks before classes begin are the best opportunity for families to catch up on missed vaccinations for measles, whooping cough, chickenpox and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Every missed or delayed vaccine is a missed opportunity to protect a child and their entire classroom,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive.
The U.S. reported 2,321 measles cases as of July 22, according to the Johns Hopkins University measles tracker, already passing 2,289 cases reported during all of 2025.
During a July 30 virtual media roundtable hosted by I Vaccinate, a childhood immunization campaign of the Franny Strong Foundation and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bagdasarian said many younger parents have never seen measles and may mistakenly believe it is similar to chickenpox.
“A lot of people look back and say, ‘Well, I had chickenpox, and I’m just fine,’” she said. “I have to tell you that measles is different for a lot of reasons.”
The disease, she said, is one of the world’s most contagious and can lead to hospitalization, pneumonia, brain swelling and lifelong neurological complications. It can also weaken the immune system for months after infection.
“It is one of the most transmissible diseases on the planet,” Bagdasarian said.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,318 cases of measles as of July 23, with 93% occurring in people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.
Michigan has reported two measles outbreaks this year, in Washtenaw and Ottawa counties, accounting for 78% of the state’s measles cases.
Dr. Ryan Malosh, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Immunization, said vaccination rates have declined since COVID-19, leaving more children vulnerable to preventable diseases and increasing the potential for outbreaks.
“These kids who are unvaccinated, they represent real individuals, real people who are at risk for these diseases,” he said.
Malosh and others also expressed concern about pertussis, or whooping cough, noting as of May 31, Michigan had reported 122 cases, including 33 in children younger than 2.
Officials said one in three babies who contract pertussis requires hospitalization, while one in five develops pneumonia. Some also experience seizures or brain swelling.
Michigan’s school vaccine waiver rate reached 6.2% in 2024, the highest level since 2013, the organization said, noting only 3.5% were medical waivers.
Parents can review immunization and waiver rates for their child’s school through the MDHHS website, which currently lists 2024 data. Officials said 2025 school-year data is expected soon.
“We can send our kids back to school safely this year by making sure they’re caught up on vaccines before the first bell rings,” said Veronica McNally, president of the Franny Strong Foundation and founder of the I Vaccinate campaign. “As a mother, I know these are personal decisions. But the science is clear, and so are the stakes: vaccinating your child protects not just them, but their classmates and their community.”
McNally founded the organization in 2012 after losing her infant daughter to whooping cough, an illness she said could have been prevented through vaccination.
Health officials recommend parents check their child’s immunization record, schedule a back-to-school appointment with their health care provider or local health department, and ask about any missed vaccinations, including this year’s flu shot.