mmunizations are one of the most basic — and cost-effective — preventative health care services. In fact, every dollar spent for measles, mumps and rubella vaccines saves at least $14.40 in later costs.

When the Chiles/MacKay administration took office, only 66 percent of Florida 2-year-olds received the immunizations they needed, leaving many at risk of measles, mumps and other childhood diseases. Under the leadership of the Chiles/MacKay administration, county health departments statewide developed bold strategies to serve as the basis for the state's Immunization Action Plan.

Because of the strong commitment of community and civic groups, more children today receive their shots. The Florida chapter of Kiwanis International, for example, made a long-term commitment to stamp out childhood diseases by distributing immunization information and sponsoring educational fairs in communities statewide. Florida's 31 Healthy Start Coalitions work to educate new moms of the importance of immunization.

The strategy paid off. In 1990, there were 603 cases of measles in Florida children. As a result of the state's immunization efforts, only one case of measles was reported in 1996. In 1997, Florida's immunization rate among 2-year-olds soared to an all-time high of 83 percent. In addition, the proportion of high-risk infants who have begun their shots by the age of seven months has risen from 78 percent to more than 94 percent in 1998.

Because of the increased attention by the Chiles/MacKay team, Florida is now well within reach of its goal to immunize 90 percent of Florida's children by 2000.