ayeshapubh340

[ayeshapubh340]

PUBH 340

Measles can kill you!

When was the last time someone around you got exposed to measles? Not recently, right? But did you know that just in 2021, measles infected approximately 9 million people worldwide? Just because measles has not impacted you yet, does not mean you’re safe. All unvaccinated individuals are at risk of exposure, so the right time to talk to your physician about vaccine administration is NOW!

Want to know more about the virus?

Measles is among one of the most highly contagious human pathogens that spreads through air, and can result in extreme symptoms including death. Viral droplets inhaled by unvaccinated individuals invade the respiratory system, initiating primary symptoms like a cough, runny nose, red eyes, pneumonia, and diarrhea. These symptoms progressively get worse by transitioning into severe rashes throughout the body, along with neurological deficits leading to death. Some of the long term impacts of measles among survivors include blindness, deafness, brain damage, loss of immunity, etc.

Few facts about the severity of measles presented by the CDC suggest:

Measles kills approximately 350 people a day, mostly children.

An estimated 128,000 people (mostly children) died of measles in 2021.

1 person with measles can infect 12-18 people, making it among the most infectious diseases. 

9 out of 10 susceptible people exposed to measles develop symptoms.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, November 5). Measles signs and symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/symptoms/signs-symptoms.html#:~:text=Measles%20 symptoms%20 appear%207%20to,days%20after%20the%20first%20 symptoms

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, January 26). About measles vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/measles/index.html#:~:text=Measles%20can%20be%20prevented%20with,through%206%20years%20of%20age 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, January 25). Measles vaccines for children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/measles.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, November 5). Transmission of measles. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/transmission.html

[ayeshapubh340]

PUBH 340

The measles crises can be tackled by vaccine advocacy!

If parents were to be questioned about their most valued relationships, would they take a second before mentioning their children? No, right? A similar sentiment needs to be shown towards protecting the health and well being of all children in order to eradicate measles once and for all. 

The most vulnerable population to the deadly disease of measles happens to be children. It is upon parents to take the responsibility of keeping their children protected from measles through the safe and effective administration of the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine can be registered anytime during an individual's lifetime prior to exposure, but the recommended time suggested by the CDC suggests the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.

Crucial facts about the efficacy of the MMR vaccine include:

Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective

Safe and effective vaccines to prevent measles and rubella have been available for over 50 years

Measles vaccines saved more than 56 million lives worldwide between 2000-2021

2 recommended doses of measles and rubella vaccine cost less than $2 per child

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, November 5). Measles signs and symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/symptoms/signs-symptoms.html#:~:text=Measles%20 symptoms%20 appear%207%20to,days%20after%20the%20first%20 symptoms

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, January 26). About measles vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/measles/index.html#:~:text=Measles%20can%20be%20prevented%20with,through%206%20years%20of%20age 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, January 25). Measles vaccines for children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/measles.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, November 5). Transmission of measles. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/transmission.html