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Tracking Vaccine-preventable Diseases
WHAT IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE?
Dramatic declines in the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases have
created a need for surveillance systems that are sensitive enough to detect
rare cases and isolated outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. As new
vaccines are licensed and recommended, new strategies for monitoring the
incidence of additional diseases are also needed. Some of the diseases that
have been newly identified as vaccine-preventable are not easily monitored
through existing public health surveillance systems. These diseases require
development of new and more complex strategies for surveillance.
WHAT HAS CDC ACCOMPLISHED?
CDC provides leadership and guidance for vaccine-preventable disease
surveillance, investigation, and outbreak control throughout the United
States. Recent accomplishments include documenting the elimination of
naturally-acquired polio and indigenous measles in the United States.
Scientific assistance provided to state and local health departments enables
disease trends to be monitored and has demonstrated the effectiveness and
impact of vaccines in controlling rubella, mumps, tetanus, diphtheria,
Haemophilus influenzae type b, and chickenpox.
Example of Program in Action
Illness from nine infectious diseases (i.e., smallpox, diphtheria, pertussis,
tetanus, paralytic polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and H. influenzae
type b) has decreased by 95% to 100% since the beginning of the 20th
century. Surveillance challenges presented by newly licensed vaccines
against diseases such as chickenpox, which is not nationally notifiable,
have led CDC to develop enhanced surveillance methods that include
documentation of vaccine usage and the impact of vaccine recommendations.
Results from three sites indicate a decrease in cases of chickenpox in all
age groups, with the greatest decline occurring among children 1 to 4 years
of age, the primary target group for vaccination. Results also show that the
varicella vaccine is more than 90% effective in preventing moderate to
severe cases of chickenpox when given routinely. Accomplishments have also
been made through the New Vaccine Surveillance Network. This network has
documented the burden of disease due to influenza among children 6 to 23
months of age.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?
The need for enhanced surveillance to define disease burden and monitor
vaccine impact continues. New approaches to surveillance include increased
use of data from managed-care organizations, proprietary hospital discharge
databases, state-based immunization registries, and laboratories.
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last reviewed January 2004
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Programs In Brief
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