U.S. Measles Outbreak: Here's Who Needs A Vaccine

Measles, a highly contagious but preventable disease, is seeing its highest resurgence in the United States since the disease was eliminated in the country and federal health officials expect to see more cases this year.

So far, 704 cases have been reported in the United States in 22 states, according to the latest numbers provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday. Since Monday, new cases have been reported in states across the country, including in Pennsylvania, Alabama, and California.

According to the CDC, the high number of cases in 2019 are due to a few large outbreaks, one in Washington and two in New York. The recent outbreak started due to travelers being infected overseas and then bringing the disease back to the United States. The CDC said that 90 percent of those cases were in people who were old enough to have been vaccinated but had either not been vaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown. The second reason for the spread of the outbreak, particularly in New York, is due to the spread of misinformation about vaccines in communities that have been hit hard by measles, the CDC said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that two doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine are 97 percent effective in preventing the disease while a single dose is 93 percent effective. Most of this year’s cases have been in those who have not been vaccinated.

Here’s what you need to know about the CDC’s vaccine recommendations for different groups:

Children and Infants:

The CDC’s typical recommendation is two doses of the vaccine for children, with the first dose at 12-15 months and the second dose between the ages of 4 and 6. The second dose of the vaccine can be given earlier as well provided that it is given at least 28 days after the first dose, the CDC says.

However, earlier this week the CDC said it strongly recommends that infants between 6-11 months old get a single dose of the vaccine before traveling.

Adolescents and Adults Who Have Not Been Vaccinated:

Adolescents and adults who have not had measles or have not been vaccinated should get two doses of the vaccine separated by at least 28 days. The CDC also said that people traveling internationally should try to be vaccinated at least two full weeks before traveling.

Adults Born Before 1957

Adults who were born before 1957 do not need to be vaccinated as nearly everyone in this age group is likely to have been infected and is presumed to be protected against measles, mumps and rubella, the CDC says. Healthcare workers in this age group who do not have evidence of immunity should get two doses of the vaccine.

Adults Vaccinated in the 1960s

Adults who received the vaccine in the 1960s and have documentation of receiving the live measles vaccine do not need to be revaccinated. Anyone vaccinated before 1968 with either the inactivated measles vaccine or a measles vaccine of an unknown type should get at least one dose of the MMR vaccine, the CDC said.

Adults Born Before 1989

Before 1989, the CDC only recommended a single dose of the vaccine. In a telephone briefing with reporters, CDC Vaccine Director Dr. Nancy Messonnier said that the agency is focused on making sure adults who are in high risk settings are up to date with their vaccinations.

Asked specifically about adults born before 1989, Messonnier said that the science shows most adults — including those who received a single dose of the vaccine — are protected against measles.

In its guidelines, the CDC says that adults who have written documentation of getting a single dose of the MMR vaccine and are not at high risk for exposure and transmission do not need to get another dose. Adults at high risk for exposure who have written documentation of two doses of the MMR vaccine do not need a vaccine, according to the CDC.

Adults who don’t have evidence of immunity should get at least one dose of the vaccine.

The agency says that anyone who does not have written documentation that they received the MMR vaccine should get vaccinated. The CDC says there is no harm in getting another dose of the vaccine if someone is already immune to measles, mumps or rubella.

“Vaccination is a simple, safe and effective way to protect our loved ones and neighbors from the scourge of measles, and the suffering we are seeing today is completely avoidable,” Alex Azar, Health and Human Services Secretary, said in the telephone briefing.

Azar also reiterated that vaccines are safe “because they are among the most studied medical products we have.”

Click Here: camisetas de futbol baratas