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Vaccine Preventable Diseases

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Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD)

Contact: Florida Health


Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance Report August 2019

Hepatitis A

1. A graph showing hepatitis A activity has been increasing each month from July 2018 – August 2019. In August 318 cases were reported.
  • Hepatitis A activity decreased slightly from last month but has been above the previous 5-year average since April 2018.
  • 318 cases were reported in August.
  • Incidence was highest among adults 30-39 years old.
  • Non-injection and injection drug use were the most commonly reported risk factors.
  • Since January 2018, 98% of cases were not up to date on hepatitis A vaccinations.

Pertussis

A graph showing pertussis activity has fluctuated each month from July 2018 – August 2019. In August 51 cases were reported.
  • Pertussis activity increased from last month and was above the previous 5-year average.
  • 51 cases and no outbreaks were reported.
  • Incidence remained highest among infants <1 year old. Infants <2 months old are too young to receive vaccinations against pertussis, which is why vaccination of other age groups is so important to help prevent infection in this highly vulnerable group.

Varicella

A graph showing varicella activity has fluctuated each month from July 2018 – August 2019. In August 83 cases were reported.
  • Varicella activity increased from last month and was above the previous 5-year average.
  • 83 cases and one outbreak was reported.
  • Incidence was highest among infants <1 year old.
  • 55% of cases were not up to date on varicella vaccinations or had unknown vaccination status.

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.

A map showing the proportion of children ages 4–18 years with religious exemptions by county as of August 31, 2019. Counties with a proportion of 0.4%–1.3% are: Bradford, Calhoun, DeSoto, Dixie, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Jackson, Lafayette, Levy, Liberty, Taylor, Union, Washington. Counties with a proportion of 1.4%–2.6% are: Baker, Franklin, Gulf, Highlands, Holmes, Jefferson, Lake, Leon, Madison, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Okeechobee, Polk, Putnam, Sumter, Suwannee, Wakulla. Counties with a proportion of 2.7%–3.7% are: Bay, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough, Indian River, Manatee, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Santa Rosa, St. Lucie. Counties with a proportion of 3.8%–7.0% are: Alachua, Brevard, Collier, Columbia, Flagler, Hernando, Lee, Martin, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pinellas, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Volusia, Walton.

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 4-18 years with new REs is increasing each month. Statewide, the estimated prevalence of REs among children age 4 to18 years old is 3.2% with individual counties ranging from 0.4% to 7%. In August 2018, the statewide prevalence was 2.9%, 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 August 31, 2019.

 

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