Infographic "Visualizing Development: Immunization"

The introductory text reads, Before the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, 30 million people globally contracted measles each year. About 2 million of them died, usually because they were both malnourished and sick. (World Health Organization, April 28, 2017). Thankfully, worldwide vaccination efforts now mean that no child need die of measles. Measles is highly infectious, so 95 percent of the population needs to be immunized in order for ‘herd immunity’ to protect the entire community. The United States achieved that: A decade ago, the measles incidence was close to zero. Experts thought measles would soon be eliminated in all developed countries, so public health workers focused on the very poorest nations.

A subheading reads, Estimated Measles Vaccine Coverage – Selected Nations. The following text reads, By June 2019, more than 1,000 measles cases had been reported in 28 states, the most since 1992 (measles was declared eliminated in 2000) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, June 17, 2019). To understand what went wrong, note that many states allow personal or religious exemptions to immunization requirements. Thus, as the U.S. map shows, several states are not at that safe 94 percent— leaving many vulnerable, not only to discomfort but also to complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death.

A world map shows the estimated measles vaccine coverage in percentage as follows. While the majority of the world's countries are 90 percent or greater, there are still concerns in many areas as the immunization rate must be 95 percent of the population in order to be effective. The lowest rates of immunization are found in countries in Africa and Central Asia, but these countries also border nations with 80 percent and 90 percent immunization rates.

Another map shows Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination Coverage and Vaccine Exemption Rates in the United States. States with vaccine exemption include Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Alaska, and Hawaii. MMR vaccination rate is more than 94 percent in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Alaska. Other states labeled on the map are New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Cincinnati, New Jersey, Delaware, and Washington, DC