| We at Saugatuck Pediatrics are monitoring the measles outbreaks very closely, and following updated guidelines from the CDC and the AAP. Here is some valuable information about how to keep your child safe and protected:
The Measles Vaccine:
- The measles vaccine is typically given at 1 and 4 years of age. The second dose, however, can be given as early as 28 days after the first dose. Approximately 90% of patients respond to the first dose, and an additional 5-7% will develop antibodies after the 2nd dose.
- Why is the second dose given at 4 years and not earlier? Simple convenience- children typically are seen at 4 for their Tdap booster, so the second MMR was scheduled for that same visit.
- For infants residing in or traveling to areas with measles breakouts, the MMR can be given as early as 6 months. However, the vaccine must be repeated at 1 and 4 years of age as maternal antibodies (which provide some protection for 6-9 months) can interfere with the long term effectiveness of the vaccine. There is no harm in giving this extra dose. Please contact us prior to travel if unsure about whether your infant needs this extra dose (ideally given at least 2 weeks prior to departure.)
- In the rare instance that a child develops measles despite having had the vaccine, the disease is much milder with significantly reduced risks of hospitalization and mortality.
IF you would like to give your child their second MMR prior to 4 years of age you have two options:
- The regular 2nd MMR, as long as 28 days have passed since the first dose (typically given at 1 year of age).
- An MMRV (MMR plus varicella). This booster is typically given at age 4, but can also be given younger as a combination vaccine for the second dose. It can be given as early as 3 months after the first dose of MMR and varicella.
Both these doses replace the vaccine we could normally give at age 4. If you do only the MMR, your child will still need a varicella vaccine at age 4.
Measles Facts:
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known. The virus is spread by small respiratory droplets. If 100 susceptible people are in a room with someone who is infected, 90 of them are likely to become ill with measles. Further, if someone who has not had measles enters an elevator or other small space up to two hours after an infected person has left, they can still contract measles.
- About 1 in 5 people with the measles requires hospitalization. About 3 of every 10 people infected with the measles will develop complications including ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), clotting disorders including hemorrhaging in the brain and skin, and seizures.
- 1-2 in 1000 children with the measles DIE.
- Approximately 1 in 5000 people with measles (1 in about 600 for infants under 15 months) develop subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a progressive and fatal neurological infection that can develop years after initial measles infection. There is no treatment.
- Measles infection can cause “immune amnesia” – it wipes out immune memory cells, increasing vulnerability to other infections for 2-3 years.
- Measles was considered eliminated in the US in 2000 until vaccination rates began to drop. Before the Texas outbreak, a child hadn’t died of measles in the US in 22 years.
- Vitamin A does not prevent measles infection and has limited proven benefits in reducing complications from measles. While it may reduce mortality in specific populations (particularly children under two), it does not reliably protect against the many serious complications that can arise from measles infection. Excessive doses of vitamin A can be dangerous, please do not start this supplementation without speaking with us.
Symptoms of measles:
- High fever
- Cough, runny nose
- Conjunctivitis (red, watery eyes- not typically with discharge)
- White spots inside of cheeks
- Rash- usually begins 2-4 days after other symptoms, begins at the hairline and spreads downward to face/neck and trunk. It appears as a red, blotchy, flat rash on light complexions, but may be harder to see or more purple on dark complexions.
- If you have any reason to believe your child may have measles, please relay this information to our staff so we can evaluate your child outside of the office.
Additional resources for your questions about measles, the vaccine, and dispelling many current myths circulating about both:
Vaxopedia Measles Information Page
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Measle Information Page
MMR Vaccine Misinformation
Your Local Epidemiologist on the Measles Outbreak
Vitamin A is not a Substitution for the Measles Vaccine
Vaccines and Autoimmunity: Separating Fact from Fiction |
