Is There a Resurgence of Vaccine Preventable Diseases in the U.S.?

Immunizations are a safe and effective means of promoting health and preventing disease. Vaccine programs prevent millions of cases of disease and save thousands of lives in the U.S. each year; however, the threat of vaccine-preventable diseases remains. Recent years have seen a resurgence in certain vaccine-preventable diseases which can be attributed to vaccine refusals, under-vaccination, waning immunity, less effective immunizations, and imported cases. Nurses must stay informed about the current state of vaccine compliance and disease resurgence in order to best educate families. Understanding why families refuse or delay vaccinations provides a basis for nurses to plan educational interventions designed to best meet the needs of each family.