Immunizing Michigan's children: what went wrong and what can be done to improve Michigan's pitiful record?

"New National Survey: MICHIGAN HAS LOWEST IMMUNIZATION RATE OF ALL 50 STATES FOR 1994." This headline, which appeared in bold letters, was the lead story in the August 25, 1995 edition of The New York Times. In the days following, news media around the state highlighted results of the federal Centers for Disease Control report that found only 61 percent of Michigan two-year-olds fully immunized, while nationally 75 percent of children ages 19-35 months have shots up-to-date. In Detroit, the lowest ranked city in the nation, numbers were worse, with just half fully immunized by age two. The Ann Arbor News called Michigan's record "pitiful," stating, "Our children are too valuable for Michigan to rank last in immunization." The Detroit Free Press called the CDC results "a source of shame." Noting substantial increases in Michigan's vaccination rate the past four years, editorial writers added, "But last is still last."