Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

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July 1, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Vaccine Rule Could Hurt Kids: Public Health Agencies Can Turn Away Insured" Detroit Free Press (www.freep.com) (07/01/02); Wendland, Wendy; Askari, Emilia

Faced with vaccine shortages again this year, a little known but long-standing policy of community health services went into full implementation last month in Michigan.  State officials are requiring stricter adherence to the policy that restricts the administering of discounted vaccines at community health centers to uninsured children or children whose insurance does not cover vaccines.  With the push for 100 percent vaccination compliance over the past few years, the policy became very lax as parents who did have insurance took advantage of the discounted rates and convenience of taking their children to the clinics.  Many private physicians are unable to restock the vaccines this year and are sending their patients to the clinics.  Additionally, Michigan sixth graders are being required to have their immunizations updated prior to enrolling in school this fall which means thousands of children will be flooding doctors' offices and clinics.  The CDC says the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, measles, mumps, and rubella, and chicken pox vaccines are all currently in short supply, although greater availability is expected during the next few weeks for some of them.  During the past decade, Michigan had the worst immunization rate in the nation, with just 61 percent of two-year-olds meeting the mandates for full immunization.

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.