A little bit about Measles and why prevention is important…

Measles, also known as Rubeola, is a highly contagious disease that, until 2020, was eradicated from the United States due to our highly successful vaccination campaign. We are currently experiencing several outbreaks, especially one in Texas and neighboring New Mexico. One child has died in Texas and two adults in New Mexico as of this writing. 

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It is important to know a few things about measles:

• It is HIGHLY contagious.
• It can cause complications which cause life-long damage and/or are deadly including brain inflammation (encephalitis) and pneumonia, especially in children.
• It is NOT the same as Rubella which is sometimes called German Measles. If you were born after 1957 and before 1971 and think you had measles, it may have been German Measles which is also a virus but is much milder and only considered risky to pregnant mothers and their unborn children. The MMR vaccine works to prevent Measles, Mumps and Rubella. The MMRV vaccine does the same and adds Varicella, also known as Chicken Pox.

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Medical experts recommend that you get revaccinated if you were previously vaccinated between 1957 and 1968 because the vaccine used during that period was not as effective as the one in use now which uses two doses.

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Even the Secretary of HHS, Robery F Kennedy, Jr., a noted vaccine skeptic, has endorsed the measles vaccine. Please, if you and your children are not vaccinated, for your health and the health of those that may be vulnerable around you, get vaccinated against measles as soon as possible. 

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With concern for the health of everyone,

Lee