The measles virus was considered eliminated from the U.S. for over 20 years, that is until this past spring when more than 1,000 cases of the virus presented across the U.S. As of May 23rd, outbreaks have been found in 30 states and New York City. About 67 percent of U.S. measles cases have affected children ages 19 and younger and 96 percent of those who have had the virus are unvaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control report that there have been three deaths from this recent outbreak.
The return of measles can be attributed to two things: declining vaccination rates here in the U.S. and an increase in global measles activity (unvaccinated people infected with measles returning to the U.S.). Everyone can do their part to protect their family and their community from measles by getting vaccinated.
Measles is a highly contagious, airborne, rash illness and before the vaccine was made available in 1968, 48,000 people would be hospitalized annually from the virus and about 500 would die from it. It is not a seasonal virus and it can live in the air for two hours after an infected person leaves the space making places like airplanes breading grounds for the virus. Measles symptoms usually present 7-14 days after infection and include:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Tiny white spots inside the mouth after symptoms begin
- Flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline then spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet
- Small raised bumps on top of the flat red spots
Standard protocol for childhood vaccinations in the U.S. currently includes vaccinating against the measles with either the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine or the MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) vaccine. Children receive two doses of the MMR or MMRV vaccine between 12 months and 6 years of age and they are protected for life. Side effects of the vaccine are typically very mild and may include soreness at the injection site or a low-grade fever.
There is no reason measles should be making a comeback here in the U.S. or anywhere in the world for that matter and there is every reason we should be using the vaccination resources we have available to keep the disease eradicated.
Speak with your child’s pediatrician about the MMR/MMRV vaccine and let’s eradicate measles once again. It takes everyone doing their part!
All standard vaccinations are covered by your health plan at 100% of the allowable covered cost. Learn more at https://www.ewtf.org/health-benefits-spd/schedule-of-benefits/#medical-benefits-chart.