Vaccines Play a Key Role in Keeping Communities Safe, Healthy

Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses like measles, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, have made recent headlines across the nation. ThedaCare is addressing the issue by encouraging families to stay on track with recommended immunization schedules.

The emphasis on immunizations comes amid World Immunization Week observations. The global campaign helps highlight the importance of vaccines.

“The childhood vaccines we recommend are designed to teach the immune system to recognize and resist serious diseases,” said Dr. Annika Ridlehoover, a Pediatrician with ThedaCare Physicians Pediatrics-Neenah. “The pacing and combination of vaccines are based on when a child’s immune system is ready to learn and respond best.”

ThedaCare encourages families to follow the immunization recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

National and statewide upticks in measles and pertussis (whooping cough) have underscored the impacts of the decrease in the number of children receiving on-time vaccines. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recently released its 2025 childhood immunization statistics.

Nearly seven of every 10 children (66.9%) had the recommended vaccinations at age 24 months. That means roughly three of every 10 did not. This is a decline of almost 2% from 2024, according to Wisconsin DHS.

In the counties ThedaCare serves, Marquette and Green Lake counties had the lowest childhood vaccination rates, with rates of 49% and 50.2%, respectively.

Measles and Pertussis

Measles is an extremely contagious disease whose complications can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), deafness, intellectual disability and even death. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine can help prevent measles.

In Wisconsin, the 2025 MMR vaccination rate for children at age 24 months was 79.8%, down from 88.2% in 2013. That’s a decrease of 8.4%.

As of late March 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1,575 confirmed measles cases in the United States to date for the year. That number includes 16 measles outbreaks. Wisconsin was among the states to have reported measles cases.

In 2025, the United States saw 2,258 confirmed measles cases, according to the CDC. That’s the highest number of cases since 1991.

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a serious respiratory illness caused by bacteria that attach to the lining of the lungs. It can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing that often makes it hard to breathe. It also can affect people of all ages and may be especially serious for babies.

Two pertussis vaccines are available, depending on age: either the DTaP or Tdap vaccine. In Wisconsin, the 2025 DTaP vaccination rate for children at 24 months of age was 70.2%, down from 77.3% in 2013. That’s a decrease of 7.1%.

Between 2024 and 2025, Wisconsin saw more than 3,700 cases of pertussis.

Vaccinations Can Help

In early 2026, the AAP released a list of infectious diseases that childhood vaccines can help prevent. The list featured:

• RSV, the leading cause of hospitalization for babies before their first birthday.
• Influenza (flu), a contagious respiratory disease. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone starting at 6 months old. Historically, more than 80% of influenza-associated pediatric deaths have occurred in unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children.
• Hepatitis B, a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease.
• Measles, a highly contagious disease that causes a high fever, rash, cough and red eyes. It can lead to life-threatening complications.
• Rotavirus, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, pneumococcal disease, COVID-19, mumps, rubella, chickenpox (varicella), meningitis, HPV and hepatitis A. These are diseases that can be prevented by following the AAP recommendations for vaccines.

Dr. Ridlehoover stressed the importance of sticking to the childhood vaccine schedule and reiterated the role families play in keeping communities safe and healthy.

“Even small declines in vaccination rates can increase the risk of preventable diseases spreading and outbreaks occurring,” she said. “We are here to answer any vaccination questions you may have. We want to help protect our communities and allow our kids to live their healthiest, best life.”

Visit thedacare.org/immunizations for all immunization options.

About ThedaCare

For more than 115 years, ThedaCare® has been improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in northeast and central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 650,000 residents in 17 counties, and employs approximately 7,000 providers and team members at 180 points of care, including 10 hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique, best lives. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, find solutions together, and encourage health awareness and action. ThedaCare is part of Froedtert ThedaCare, Wisconsin’s most comprehensive health care system.