The 2016 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Annual Report was released by the Office of Infectious Disease Services this past week. It highlights five vaccine-preventable diseases that disease detectives track and monitor, tasks that are critical to help identify cases and reduce further spread to others. This report covers the largest measles outbreak in the nation for 2016, the influenza season with the highest number since influenza became reportable in 2004, and an increase in Hib cases in Northern Arizona.
Vaccination is the best protection against these diseases for people of all ages. Through vaccine programs, many diseases have become rare or even eliminated from the United States. However, they are just a plane ride away. Talk with your provider to see if there are any vaccines that you or your family need.
