Measles Vaccines available at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Family Medicine
As of January 25, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has documented a resurgence of measles cases across multiple states. This alarming trend has raised concerns about the potential loss of the United States’ measles elimination status, a milestone achieved nearly two decades ago.
Throughout 2023, the CDC recorded a total of 58 measles cases reported in various states across the nation, including California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The United States has proudly maintained measles elimination since 2000, a testament to high vaccination rates with two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Still, the potential for outbreaks looms, especially if measles gains a foothold in communities with low vaccination rates.
Measles is highly contagious, with an estimated 90% of unvaccinated individuals contracting the disease when exposed to an infected person. Efforts to combat measles resurgence are underway, with healthcare institutions like the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Family Medicine ensuring compliance with administering MMR vaccines to eligible age groups within the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.
Children are recommended to receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first dose administered between 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose between 4 to 6 years of age. Alternatively, the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) vaccine (MMRV) offers another option for children aged 12 months to 12 years, following the same dosing schedule as the MMR vaccine.
PVCH Family Medicine urges parents and caregivers to ensure their children are up-to-date on vaccinations, emphasizing the critical role vaccination plays in preventing the spread of measles and maintaining the hard-won status of measles elimination in the United States.
For more information, please go to https://www.cdc.gov/.
