(February 29, 2012 - Phoenix, AZ) - Outbreaks of infectious diseases once thought to be all but gone, are on the rise at an alarming rate.

This morning, the Arizona House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee heard from a panel of experts regarding the public health dangers of infectious diseases, and the critical importance of childhood vaccinations/immunizations in preventing the occurrence and spread of potentially lethal illnesses.

During his presentation to the committee, Dr. Arturo Gonzalez, president of the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, noted "the vaccines we have today are the most effective means ever known to man for preventing the outbreak of infectious diseases." Unfortunately, he added, the full immunization rate in Arizona stands at approximately 76%, far below the 92% rate needed to fully prevent an outbreak.

"Immunization refusal rates have doubled," Dr. Gonzalez added, noting that parents refuse to vaccinate their children for a variety of reasons, including religious objections, moral grounds, or concerns over side-effects-though he dismissed widely-held concerns over secondary health concerns as repeatedly proven to have no basis in scientific fact.

What it comes down to, Dr. Gonzalez stated, is that the actions of a few people are putting the entire public health at risk.

Dr. Gonzalez also shared anecdotes from his own pediatric practice, getting to the heart of misconceptions that exist regarding the safety and efficacy of currently available vaccines.

The committee also heard from Jennifer Tinney of the Arizona Partnership for Immunizations, and from Leslie Maier, a mother who lost her 17 year old son to meningococcal meningitis (for which a vaccine exists), and viewed a video statement from Natalie Norton, who lost an infant to pertussis (whooping cough), also preventable by vaccine. Arizona Department of Health Services Director Will Humble and representatives from the Arizona Chapter of the March of Dimes were also on hand at the hearing.

"Director Humble reminded us, and the Committee, this morning, that we're really facing two concerns here: children who are not vaccinated, and children who are under vaccinated," Dr. Gonzalez stated, following the proceedings. "The important thing is that we can protect our children from these horrible and potentially fatal illnesses, but it requires a combination of proper care and supervision by professional pediatric practitioners, and the public policy to ensure that parents are educated with the facts about vaccines, and that immunizations are available, and affordable, for every child in the State of Arizona.

"As I told the committee this morning, right now we are at a standstill-or going backwards-in our effective rates of full immunizations," Dr. Gonzalez added. "We're in very real danger of seeing continued outbreaks and fatalities that can be easily prevented, and I hope that our presentation to the Committee today will help put us back on track to reaching the higher levels of full vaccinations we need to keep all of our children safe."

DR. GONZALEZ AND LOCAL PEDIATRICIAN EXPERTS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION ARE AVAILABLE STATEWIDE FOR PRINT, RADIO, TV AND ONLINE INTERVIEWS REGARDING GENERAL IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION, OR INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO THEIR LOCALITIES.

For interview arrangements, or for additional information regarding Wednesday's hearing or immunizations/vaccinations in general, please contact Jeremy Helfgot at 310-413-3360  or Steve Tripp at 602.330.1329 .

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