Fifteen years ago, measles was considered eliminated from the United States. However, in recent weeks the number of people infected with measles has gone up to 78 since an outbreak in California’s Disneyland.  In 2014 alone there were 644 reported cases in the United States. Many of those infected were never vaccinated for various reasons.  One of the primary reasons is parent’s fear or concerns regarding the measles vaccine.  Many people may not realize the devastating effects measles can have and therefore do not fear the disease but tend to fear the vaccine due to hearing about possible side effects and reports of its link to Autism which more recent research has disputed

According to the Center for Disease Control, measles is a very contagious disease.  It remains active in the air and on surfaces up to 2 hours.  Generally, symptoms appear about 7-14 days after exposure and often with cough, runny nose, fever, and watery eyes.  Two to three days after first symptoms begin, white spots appear inside the mouth. Following that, a rash begins, starting at the head and spreading down to the rest of the body, usually appearing about 3-5 days from the first signs of being sick.  Serious complications from measles can include pneumonia and encephalitis, which can lead to long-term deafness or brain damage. There is no known cure for measles.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Family Physicians highly recommend that children get the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine at age 12 to 15 months and again at 4 to 6 years.  This two dose method is considered the best method in protecting against measles, mumps, and rubella.

The most common side effects of the MMR vaccine are fever and a mild rash. The MMR, like any substance, can have side effects some of which can be serious.  However, the risk of serious side effects is very small.  The effects of measles are much more dangerous.

For more information and questions about measles and the MMR vaccine:

• Contact your local or state health department
• Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC- INFO)
• MedlinePlus page on the MMR vaccine or measles
• CDC page on the MMR vaccine or measles

It is important to keep records of vaccinations.  This information is often needed for school, sports, travel, and child care.  Keeping track of vaccinations is made easier with the CDC charts for children from birth to 6 years old and a chart for children ages 7-18 as well as general vaccination information for parents.