Parental attitudes and decisions regarding MMR vaccination during an outbreak of measles among an undervaccinated Somali community in Minnesota.

Incidence of measles is increasing in the US, largely due to transmission among growing unvaccinated communities. To elucidate predictors of parental decision to obtain measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for unvaccinated children during a measles outbreak, we surveyed families among a vaccine-hesitant Somali community in Minnesota. The survey assessed attitudes and beliefs about MMR vaccine, motivators for vaccinating, and intention to vaccinate future children on time. Among 300 families surveyed, 95% vaccinated their child with MMR due to fear of measles. The predominating parental concern about MMR vaccine (71%) was a fallacious presumed connection between vaccination and autism. Only 41% of parents intended to vaccinate future children on time with MMR; parents who received recommendations for MMR vaccination from multiple sources were more likely than other parents to intend to do so. These findings support the importance of diverse outreach efforts to increase vaccine coverage among undervaccinated communities.

Measles Outbreak in Minnesota (2017): Roles of an Immunization Information System.

The Minnesota Department of Health used its Immunization Information System-the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection-to respond to an outbreak of measles in the state in 2017 by assisting with the exclusion of unvaccinated exposed individuals from public activities, providing members of the public with their immunization records, and monitoring measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine uptake. Use of the Immunization Information System was found to be an efficient and sustainable tool in responding to the outbreak.

Measles Outbreak - Minnesota April-May 2017.

On April 10, 2017, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) was notified about a suspected measles case. The patient was a hospitalized child aged 25 months who was evaluated for fever and rash, with onset on April 8. The child had no history of receipt of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and no travel history or known exposure to measles. On April 11, MDH received a report of a second hospitalized, unvaccinated child, aged 34 months, with an acute febrile rash illness with onset on April 10. The second patient's sibling, aged 19 months, who had also not received MMR vaccine, had similar symptoms, with rash onset on March 30. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) testing of nasopharyngeal swab or throat specimens performed at MDH confirmed measles in the first two patients on April 11, and in the third patient on April 13; subsequent genotyping identified genotype B3 virus in all three patients, who attended the same child care center. MDH instituted outbreak investigation and response activities in collaboration with local health departments, health care facilities, child care facilities, and schools in affected settings. Because the outbreak occurred in a community with low MMR vaccination coverage, measles spread rapidly, resulting in thousands of exposures in child care centers, schools, and health care facilities. By May 31, 2017, a total of 65 confirmed measles cases had been reported to MDH (Figure 1); transmission is ongoing.

2009 H1N1 vaccination in Minnesota: an evaluation by ZIP code.

According to Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) data, 23% of Minnesotans were vaccinated against 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza. We analyzed 2009 H1N1 vaccination data at the ZIP code level to learn more about who received the vaccine between 2009 and 2010. We found significant differences in H1N1 vaccination rates by percentage of residents living below the family poverty line, percentage of non-Caucasian residents in a ZIP code and median family income. When stratified by urban or rural location, median family income was significantly associated with vaccination rate only in urban settings; the percentage of non-Caucasians living in an area was significant only in rural settings. In both urban and rural settings, most H1N1 vaccinations were given in a private facility, although the proportion was much higher in urban ZIP codes (81.5%) than rural ZIP codes (53.2%, P < 0.0001). Further research is needed to find out why vaccination rates were associated with increasing median family income in urban areas and why in rural areas, people living in ZIP codes with a higher percentage of non-Caucasian residents were more likely to be vaccinated after controlling for poverty and median income.

A local and state partnership for influenza preparedness: The Minnesota influenza vaccine inventory log.

When Chiron announced its inability to provide influenza vaccine during the 2004-05 season, state and local public health agencies in Minnesota immediately took action to assess and redistribute existing influenza vaccine supplies to those at the highest risk. This experience in 2004, coupled with product delivery delays and shortages in other years, prompted development of a Web-based tool to inventory influenza vaccine orders prior to the start of the 2005-06 influenza season. The resulting data were summarized by region of the state, and the proportion of coverage for the priority risk group population was computed. Based on the importance of having order information available, this vaccine inventory tool will be continually refined and utilized in preparation for each upcoming influenza season.