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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, & community efforts.

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Vaccine Preventable Diseases


Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD)

Contact: Florida Health


Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance Report April 2019

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A activity has been increasing each month from April 2018 – April 2019. In April 293 cases were reported.
  • Hepatitis A activity increased from last month and has been above the previous 5-year average since April 2018.
  • 293 cases were reported in April.
  • Drug use was the most commonly reported risk factor.

Pertussis

Pertussis activity has fluctuated each month from April 2018 – April 2019. In April 29 cases were reported.
  • Pertussis activity increased from last month and was below the previous 5-year average.
  • 29 cases and no outbreaks were reported.
  • Incidence remained highest among infants <1 year old.

Measles

Measles activity has fluctuated each month from April 2018 – April 2019. In April 1 case was reported.
  • One measles case was reported in April.
  • 2 total cases linked to international travel have been reported in 2019.
  • 0% of cases had documented vaccination against measles.

Varicella

Varicella activity has fluctuated each month from April 2018 – April 2019. In April 85 cases were reported.
  • Varicella activity increased from last month and was above the previous 5-year average.
  • 85 cases and no outbreaks were reported.
  • Incidence was highest among infants <1 year old.

For all vaccine-preventable diseases, timely and complete vaccination is the best way to prevent infection. Although vaccinated individuals can still become infected with diseases like pertussis or varicella, in general, those who have received at least 1 dose of vaccine have less severe outcomes than those who have never been vaccinated for the disease.

This map shows the proportion of children ages 4–18 years with religious exemptions by county as of April 30, 2019. Counties with a proportion of 0.3%–1.1% are: Hardee, Liberty, Glades, Hendry, Dixie, Hamilton, Bradford, Gadsden, Lafayette, Washington, Gilchrist, Jackson, Taylor, Union, Levy, Calhoun, DeSoto Counties with a proportion of 1.2%–2.4% are: Madison, Putnam, Jefferson, Baker, Holmes, Okeechobee, Franklin, Gulf, Wakulla, Suwannee, Miami-Dade, Sumter, Nassau, Leon, Polk, Highlands, Clay Counties with a proportion of 2.5%–3.6% are: Hillsborough, Bay, Orange, Duval, Citrus, Charlotte, Manatee, Palm Beach, Pasco, Escambia, St. Lucie, Marion, Indian River, Broward, Osceola, Lake, Volusia Counties with a proportion of 3.7%–6.6% are: Hernando, Seminole, Lee, Alachua, Brevard, Collier, Pinellas, Okaloosa, Columbia, St. Johns, Martin, Monroe, Walton, Flagler, Sarasota, Santa Rosa

Unvaccinated children are at increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, pertussis, and varicella. Communities with a higher proportion of religious exemptions (REs) to vaccination are at increased risk of vaccine-preventable disease transmission.

The proportion of children age 4 to 18 years with new REs is increasing each month. Statewide, the estimated prevalence of REs among children age 4 to18 years old is 3.1% with individual counties ranging from 0.3% to 6.6%. In April 2018, the statewide prevalence was 2.7%, and the prevalence has gradually increased each month since.

To learn more about REs at the local level, please visit www.flhealth.gov/REmap.

All REs are required to be entered into Florida SHOTS (State Health Online Tracking System), Florida’s statewide immunization registry. The map above includes REs registered in Florida SHOTS through April 30, 2019.

 

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