Public health director outlines state priorities as MMR coverage falls to 89%; officials warn of measles and pertussis risks

Bismarck — Dirk Wilkie, interim commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services and executive director of public health, presented the department’s 2024–2029 State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) to the House Appropriations Subcommittee, Human Services/Human Resources and emphasized four priorities for the next five years: strengthening workforce, cultivating wellness and childhood opportunity, expanding access and connection to health services, and building community resilience.

Wilkie said the SHIP was developed from extensive data analysis and stakeholder input. “We reached out to over 125 focus groups and stakeholders,” Wilkie said, and he credited North Dakota State University’s Center for Social Research for helping finalize the report. The plan, Wilkie said, is one of the documents required by public health accreditation and will guide division work through 2029.

Decline in childhood immunization: Wilkie highlighted a decline in childhood MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) immunization. “In 2019 to 2020, our MMR vaccine was at 94.2% of children immunized. Right now, we sit at 89% of children immunized,” Wilkie said, noting the public-health goal for community immunity is 95%. He added the department has observed an increase in exemption rates from about 3% in 2019–2020 to roughly 7% now.

Disease contro…