Measles Is A Serious Disease
A lack of vaccination can lead to serious complications
The United States reported in 2000 that measles was eliminated. Since then, the US Centers for Disease Control has reported an increasing number of cases of measles across the US:
As a physician, this is worrying. Measles is a very contagious virus, and it can spread rapidly among people who are not vaccinated. And it doesn’t just cause an annoying cold. Measles is a serious condition, and it can cause serious complications, as noted by the CDC:
Furthermore, there is a condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which is a rare, but fatal degenerative disease of the central nervous system that can develop 7 to 10 years after measles infection. It is characterized by behavioral and intellectual deterioration and seizures.
This is why vaccination against measles is so important. As the CDC notes on its website:
Now, vaccines are not totally benign. They can cause complications. Here are the complications associated with the MMR or measles vaccine from the CDC:
Now, I am a parent, also. I am very scared of possible vaccine complications that can happen in my children. That said, the complications of the disease are far worse than the possible complications of the vaccine. Flu can kill you, especially young children. That’s why I vaccinate, not only myself, but also my children every single year against the flu.
The same goes for measles. It is particularly dangerous in the following groups of people:
This is why we vaccinate against measles. And it works the absolute best when everyone is vaccinated (called “herd immunity”). Indeed, there has been concern about the purported link between the MMR — or measles vaccine — and autism. And, again, as a parent, I am terrified of doing anything that could harm my children.
At the same time, the research is pretty clear that there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. As recent as last week, a very large Dutch study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicated no link between the vaccine and autism:
Measles is no joke. It is one of the most contagious infectious diseases known on earth. The stories of measles outbreaks concern me greatly as a physician. We had once declared measles eliminated in the United States, and that was a great thing. Nineteen years later, measles is once again rearing its ugly head, and that can’t be good for anyone. We need to take measles very seriously, and it is very important that we vaccinate ourselves if we are not vaccinated and — more importantly — vaccinate our children as well.
Measles Is A Serious Disease
Research & References of Measles Is A Serious Disease|A&C Accounting And Tax Services
Source