Post #45 How to be Optimally Measles Immunized

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes – the kicker is this can happen 2 hours AFTER said person has left the room. Measles starts with a fever; soon after, it causes a cough, runny nose, and red eyes. Then a rash of tiny, red spots breaks out which starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body.It is important to recognize that fever and rash are extremely common in children and the vast majority of fever/rash cases will not be Measles.Unless you are reading about local cases of Measles in the news – it is highly improbable that your child has Measles, especially if they are vaccinated.Per the CDC, two doses of the MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella) vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.The typical pediatric office will offer the first MMR at the 1yo check-up and the second MMR at the 4yo check-up. Note that the 4yo MMR is typically administered as part of a combination vaccine which includes both the MMR vaccine and the Varicella (Chicken Pox) vaccine, while the 1yo MMR is not part of a combination vaccine – so they may show up in different parts of your vaccine record.If you are concerned about the current measles outbreak and you would like to proactively make sure your child ’s MMR vaccine coverage is optimal, below are some options:If your child is under 6 months of age, MMR is not recommended. At this age the an...
Source: A Pediatrician's Blog - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: blogs