A child is vaccinated by a healthcare provider while a parent looks on. (Photo by Judy Schmidt of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, used under the Creative Commons 2.0 License)

MARQUETTE — Health care providers, public health agencies, community organizations, and family advocates from across Michigan joined together today to launch Michigan for Vaccines, a new statewide, cross-sector immunization coalition dedicated to protecting and strengthening vaccine policy.

Formed in response to growing threats to vaccine access and declining vaccination rates, the coalition will coordinate science-based education and advocacy efforts, aligning stakeholders around a shared mission: advancing policies that support healthy communities for all Michigan residents. The coalition will work to ensure that every family has access to vaccines and accurate information about their lifesaving benefits.

Falling vaccination rates are contributing to the return of vaccine-preventable diseases across the country, and Michigan families are right to be concerned.

As vaccination rates decline, vaccine-preventable diseases are making a concerning comeback across the country. In 2025, the United States reported 2,255 measles cases and 49 outbreaks nationwide. Cases have continued to rise in 2026, alongside increases in whooping cough and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

“The science hasn’t changed. Vaccines are safe, effective, and the best way to protect yourself and your community against serious vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Dr. Lauren Azevedo, DO, MS, FAAP, pediatrician at MSU Health Care Pediatrics and president-elect of the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

A recent EPIC-MRA statewide poll found that 62% of Michiganders are worried about the return of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, whooping cough, and flu, including 39% who say they are very concerned.

“The decline in immunization rates we are seeing is a public health crisis, driving us to work with partners and form the Michigan for Vaccines coalition dedicated to truth, science, and community. The coalition is committed to ensuring every Michigander has access to vaccines and trusted, science-based information about their benefits,” said Amy Zaagman, executive director of the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health.

The same EPIC-MRA poll also found that 59% of Michigan voters say they would be less likely to vote for a political candidate who seeks to weaken vaccine access or undermine immunization requirements for schools, compared to just 11% who would be more likely to support such a candidate.

“When voters across partisan lines, both Democrats and Republicans, share concern about policy efforts to weaken access to vaccines, it is not a political talking point — it is a public health mandate. Vaccines continue to be the most effective way to prevent outbreaks and save lives,” said Megan Petzko-Sweet, director of Michigan for Vaccines. “Michigan for Vaccines will serve as a strong, united voice for evidence-based vaccine policies that protect Michigan families and communities.”

The data is clear: when vaccination rates decline, outbreaks of preventable diseases increase, putting Michigan families and communities at greater risk. Vaccines remain one of the safest and most effective public health tools available, backed by decades of scientific evidence.

Michigan for Vaccines will work to ensure policymakers have access to accurate information about immunizations and the importance of maintaining strong protections for children and families. To learn more about the coalition and its mission, visit MIForVaccines.org.