Vaccinations keeps viruses like measles from harming individuals, communities – Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

The Indiana Department of Health reported a single case of measles Friday in Lake County its first instance of the highly contagious virus in five years.

State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver wisely used the diagnosis to urge Hoosiers and their families to get their vaccinations on time to protect themselves and, equally important, their communities.

Measles is easily spread and can be serious, especially for young children. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the United States who get measles are hospitalized, and 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles will become sick, she said in a press release. This case is a good reminder that you are at risk if you havent been vaccinated.

As of Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 35 measles cases in 15 states, including Indiana and Ohio, but also in California, New York City and Florida. And the Sunshine State is currently grappling with an elementary school outbreak.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, a well-known COVID-19 vaccine skeptic, disrupted efforts to contain the outbreak when he told parents they could ignore CDC advice to keep unvaccinated children home for 21 days. Instead of following the science, Ladapo sent a letter to households saying he is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance, imperiling the health of the unvaccinated.

Measles typically starts with a high fever, cough and runny nose. Within days, a signature rash breaks out that spreads downward from the face. The rash may also bring with it a spike in the fever. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis and even death.

In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the United States, meaning the disease is no longer constantly present. Outbreaks continue to occur around the world, so theres always a risk of measles importations.

The last case of measles in Allen County occurred in May 2016. Allen County Department of Health Administrator Mindy Waldron worries another measles outbreak could occur locally.

We have been concerned for some time that we could begin to see cases of vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly measles, because vaccination rates have declined over the past several years, she told The Journal Gazette on Monday.

Allen Countys current immunization completion rate for the measles, mumps and rubella series of vaccinations is 82.06%, which is just above the state rate of 81.49%. The countys completion rate of the same immunization series for children 19 to 35 months of age is 61.62%, which is 3.37% higher than the prior year and higher than the state rate of 56.4%.

Last year, the Allen County health department increased the countys vaccination rate by searching patient records to determine which children might need vaccinations and attempting to contact each parent to get them scheduled for appointments to get caught up, Waldron said. The department will likely continue this effort, along with funding Super Shot through its Health First Allen County grant program to increase vaccination outreach clinics in schools and other events to reduce any barriers to care.

One dose of the MMR vaccine is considered 93% effective by the CDC, and two doses is 97% effective. People who have had measles are also considered to be protected, as well as those born before 1957, as they are very likely to have had the disease.

But vaccination rates are dropping nationally. A November 2023 report by the CDC found immunization coverage for state-required vaccines decreased from 95% in 2019-2020 to 93% in 2021-2022. It remained flat at 93% in 2022-2023.

Before the U.S. started vaccinating for measles in 1963, approximately 500,000 cases and 500 measles deaths were reported annually, with epidemic cycles every two to three years, according to the CDC. But the actual number of cases was estimated at 3 million to 4 million annually. More than 50% of Americans had measles by age 6, and more than 90% by age 15.

Ignore Floridas laissez-faire attitude toward measles and get your immunizations and boosters. The Allen County community is protected from communicable diseases like measles because of vaccinations.

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Vaccinations keeps viruses like measles from harming individuals, communities - Fort Wayne Journal Gazette