What You Need to Know About Measles

Measles In a Nutshell

As everyone has probably heard at this point, there are confirmed cases of measles in and around Spokane and all over the country. Our job as your family's pediatric provider is to provide accurate, scientific information about illnesses such as measles and ways in which you can keep your family and others protected.

Measles is HIGHLY contagious. It will linger in a space for 2 hours after the infected person leaves. Often, we tell patients that you can do your best to avoid a sick-appearing person (maybe someone with a rash), but if you happen to step into a space in which a person with measles was within 2 hours of that person leaving, you are at-risk of contracting the virus.
The MMR vaccines is highly effective. After the 1st dose, a person is 93% protected and with 2 doses on-board, the protection is 97%.
We typically give the MMR at 1 year old and 4 years old; however, doses can be done as early as 6 months old* (especially if there is upcoming travel or concern for exposure during an outbreak). We can also give them closer together than 1 year and 4 years.
We know there can be questions surrounding vaccines, especially the MMR. We are always happy to answer these questions, but in brief, there has been NO link between the MMR vaccine (or any vaccine for that matter) and autism.
Someone who is immunocompromised is at great risk of serious complications of the measles virus, and since the MMR vaccine is a live-virus vaccine someone who has a suppressed immune system cannot get the vaccine themselves.
92-94% of the population needs to be immune to measles (by vaccination or history of infection) in order to limit/prevent spread of the illness.

Some retro things are fun and cool... like My Little Pony, Lincoln Logs and Strawberry Shortcake, but one thing is for sure, and that is that measles is absolutely not. As a pediatric practice, we know how a successful vaccine can save the lives of so many, and we will continue to do our part to protect children.

*A dose given at less than 1 year old does not qualify for the 2-dose series needed for school entry and confirmed immunity; however, it counts that you may protect your child against measles.

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