Preventable Diseases Cause Rising Child Mortality in Arizona

In 2024, Arizona reported 791 child deaths, a rate of 47.2 per 100,000 children, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services' Child Fatality Report. This marks a decrease from 2023, which saw 853 deaths at a rate of 51.1 per 100,000.

However, a concerning trend has emerged: 109 children died from infectious diseases, an increase from 93 the previous year, with 36% of these deaths deemed preventable through vaccination. Ashley Chambers, executive director of Arizona Families for Vaccines, expressed distress over the rise in preventable deaths, attributing it to misinformation propagated by anti-vaccine activists.

The report highlighted that 65% of the children who died from infectious diseases were under the age of one, with prematurity being a significant risk factor; 39% of the fatalities were linked to premature births.

Former DHS director Will Humble noted the vulnerability of infants, emphasizing that their lack of immunity makes them susceptible to serious infections. The report recommended that parents shield their infants from unvaccinated individuals and those with contagious illnesses like measles and COVID-19.

Additionally, 15% of the deaths were attributed to viral infections, including the flu and COVID-19, while 12% were due to bacterial infections. Nearly 10% of deaths were caused by pneumonia, often a secondary infection.

Vaccination rates in Arizona have been declining, with nearly 20% of private school kindergarteners and 7% of public school students obtaining personal belief exemptions from required vaccinations. The state is facing a measles outbreak, particularly in Mohave County, which currently has the second-largest outbreak in the country.

Chambers warned that the trend of increasing infections and deaths from preventable diseases could worsen if vaccination rates continue to drop. The report also raised concerns about the influence of anti-vaccine sentiment on public health, particularly under the leadership of Robert F.

Kennedy Jr., who advocates against vaccinations. The report concluded that ongoing public health messaging and increased vaccine availability are critical to reversing this trend. Will Humble reiterated the community's responsibility to protect the most vulnerable, stating that public health is fundamentally about collective protection.