Immunization

Prevalence

One of the most dramatic advances of medicine has been the development and use of vaccines for the prevention of one time common childhood diseases. Over the past 25 years, mass vaccination programs have resulted in 98% or more declines in the incidences of measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria and polio. An intense worldwide vaccination program has resulted in the global eradication of smallpox. It is expected that measles will be eliminated as an indigenous disease in the continental United States by 1990. Continued research and development of new vaccines is necessary to combat emerging new pathogens (e.g., the HIV virus). In some cases, such as with the pneumococcal, influenza and hepatitis B vaccines, lack of public awareness and acceptance has limited the effectiveness of the vaccination programs. Immunization programs continue to be cost-effective methods of stopping disease. In 1984, an estimated $1 billion was saved because of the polio vaccine, and $500 million was saved through use of the measles vaccine. Vaccine development and public vaccination programs are vital to our national disease prevention efforts.

There were two,587 cases of measles reported in 1984. However, in 1984, 94% of the Nation's counties reported no measles at all, and 75% of the cases occurred in six states.

Measles

In 1984, three,021 cases of mumps were reported, the lowest number a cases reported since mumps became a nationally notifiable disease in 1968.

Mumps

Babies aged 5-14 years had the highest incidence of mumps in 1983, accounting for 60% of the cases reported with known age for that year.

Rubella

Babies aged 0-4 have the highest incidence of rubella (one.8 cases/100,000 population) and accounted for one-third of all cases reported in 1983.

The 752 cases of rubella reported in 1984 were the fewest reported cases since rubella became a nationally notifiable disease in 1966.

Diphtheria

In 1984, cases of congenital rubella syndrome were reported in the United States.

Pertussis

 case of diphtheria was reported in the United States in the coursework of 1984.

Between 1982 and 1983, 43% of patients with pertussis were less than 6 months elderly. Of the patients with pertussis less than one year elderly, 73% were hospitalized, 22% had pneumonia, 2% had one or more seizures and 0.7% died.

There were two,276 cases of pertussis reported in 1984. For the decade 1974 to 1984, the annual number of pertussis cases reported ranged from one,000 to two,500, with an average of one,813 cases per year.