For parents trying to keep their families healthy, knowing where vaccine-preventable diseases are spreading can be as important as knowing when the next pediatrician visit is scheduled.
Families often hear about measles or whooping cough outbreaks after they are already happening, but this project could eventually make that information easier to see.
A new U.S. Disease Tracker project, led by Johns Hopkins University and public health organizations, is being developed to make information about vaccine-preventable diseases easier to understand and to compare across communities. The tracker is designed to include data by state, smaller geographic areas and age groups.
This health tool could be especially useful for Black families, as many Black Americans across the country continue to face disparities in vaccination rates and some vaccine-preventable illnesses.
There is one important caveat for readers: The project’s current documentation says the data are not yet public.
That means you should continue using resources from your state health departments, pediatricians, and the CDC for current vaccination and disease information until the public dashboard becomes available.
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CDC data show that vaccination gaps remain among Black adults. In 2023, vaccination coverage was generally lower among Black and Hispanic adults than among white adults across the vaccines included in the agency’s analysis.
Flu vaccination is one example. During the 2021-22 flu season, 42 percent of Black adults received a flu vaccine compared with 54 percent of white adults, according to the CDC. The agency also found that Black adults had flu hospitalization rates nearly 80 percent higher than white adults from 2009 through 2022, highlighting another public health disparity.
Overall, older Black adults have recorded lower rates of pneumococcal vaccination than white adults, with the CDC showing persistent racial disparities in coverage among individuals aged 65 and older.
The U.S. Disease Tracker is a collaboration involving Johns Hopkins University, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, along with state and territorial health departments.
According to the project’s current documentation, the system is designed to collect standardized public health data reported by participating jurisdictions. Data are reported weekly and can include age groups and smaller geographic areas.
The tracker currently lists measles, pertussis (also known as whooping cough), and invasive meningococcal disease among the diseases being collected. Its documentation also lists hepatitis A, acute hepatitis B, perinatal hepatitis B, mumps, mpox and varicella, as well as influenza-associated pediatric mortality.
The project is intended to complement, rather than replace, the CDC’s National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, according to a press release. Data submission is voluntary, and the project says it collects only aggregate information to reduce the risk of identifying individuals.
Vaccination gaps remain a concern among Black Americans, particularly for some adult vaccines. As noted above, the CDC has reported lower vaccination coverage among Black adults for several recommended vaccines compared with white adults.
The African American Wellness Project has urged families to take an active role in keeping their vaccinations up to date.
“The best way to stay current on immunizations is to be informed,” the organization says on its website.
The group recommends that families review CDC vaccination schedules and stay current with routine wellness visits for children and adults.
For older family members, that can include asking a health care provider about recommended flu, shingles and other vaccines based on their age and health history.
These conversations can be especially important for older adults and people with chronic health conditions, who may face a greater risk of complications from some vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Until the public dashboard becomes available, readers should continue using the CDC, their state or local health departments, pediatricians and primary care providers for current vaccination recommendations and disease information. Pharmacies and health systems may also offer vaccination resources.
Families do not need to wait for a new tracker to take action.
Check your vaccination records and ask your health care provider whether you or your children are due for any vaccines. Parents should also pay attention to notices from their local or state health department during outbreaks.
The CDC recommends routine vaccination according to its age-based schedules. For adults, recommendations can vary based on age, health conditions, pregnancy, occupation and other factors.
If you are unsure which vaccines you or your child need, talk with a health care provider rather than relying on an online checklist alone.
The U.S. Disease Tracker could eventually give families another way to understand where vaccine-preventable diseases are appearing. A smart approach is to take action now, even before this tool becomes available.
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