Mayo Clinic Physician: Mistaken Fear of Measles Shot Has 'Devastating' Effect

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2011-rst/6421.html

Mayo Clinic Physician: Mistaken Fear of Measles Shot Has 'Devastating' Effect

uesday, August 30, 2011

ROCHESTER, Minn. — More than 150 cases of measles have been reported in the United States already this year and there have been similar outbreaks in Europe, a sign the disease is making an alarming comeback. The reappearance of the potentially deadly virus is the result of unfounded fears about a link between the measles shot and autism that have turned some parents against childhood vaccination, says Gregory Poland, M.D., of Mayo Clinic. In the September issue of http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/">Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Dr. Poland urges doctors to review extensive scientific research that has found no connection between the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism.

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[HuckleB]

1. Measles cases abroad linked to increase of disease in U.S.: Resurgence shows need for vaccinations

http://thenationshealth.aphapublications.org/content/41...

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Prior to say 2008, every year you would see 60 to 65 people come into the United States with measles, but you wouldn’t see it spread,” Offit told The Nation’s Health. “What’s worrisome about what happened in 2008 and what’s happening now is that you see it spread from one American child to another because you have a critical number of unvaccinated children. In other words, then it was sort of like the ball would get thrown up against the wall and it would just bounce back. Now it sticks a little bit because you have a critical number of unvaccinated people.”

Maintaining high immunization rates with the mumps-measles-rubella, or MMR, vaccine is the cornerstone of outbreak prevention, infectious disease experts say. The vaccine is recommended routinely for all children at age 12 months to 15 months, with a second dose at ages 4 to 6.

Prior to the introduction of the first measles vaccine in 1963, nearly all children got measles before their 15th birthday. The virus caused pain and suffering, including as many as 500 deaths each year and 48,000 hospitalizations. According to the National Network for Immunization Information, the vaccine has led to a 99 percent reduction in the incidence of measles in the United States.

Jane Seward, MBBS, MPH, deputy director of CDC’s Division of Viral Diseases, said health care providers and parents need to be aware of the special recommendation for early measles vaccination for infants ages 6 to 11 months when they travel overseas.

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