Health agency stresses importance of vaccinations in wake of Cobb measles confirmation - Daily Tribune News

By MARIE NESMITH

In light of an unvaccinated Cobb County resident contracting measles, Georgia Department of Public Health officials are underscoring the importance of vaccination. Along with spreading awareness about immunization, they also are notifying individuals who were in contact with the patient and could have been exposed to this disease between Oct. 31 and Nov. 6.

“Without vaccinations, you, your family members and friends are at greater risk of acquiring a vaccine-preventable disease,” said Mary Ann Long, immunization coordinator for DPH Northwest Health District, which covers 10 counties, including Bartow. “Safe and effective vaccines are available to protect adults and children alike against potentially life-threatening diseases, such as tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, shingles, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella/chickenpox.

“Almost all reported cases of measles in the United States are in unvaccinated persons who either travel abroad or come in to contact with a foreign traveler. It is important to receive an MMR — measles, mumps and rubella — or MMRV, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, vaccine to protect yourself.”

Starting with a fever, measles’ patients quickly develop a runny nose, cough and red eyes. These symptoms are followed by a rash that starts at one’s head containing very small, red spots.

According to Saturday’s DPH news release, “Measles is a very contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. In fact, the measles virus can stay in the air for up to two hours after an infected person was there. People may be infected by simply being in a room where an infected person once was. It is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected.

“Measles can be prevented with the MMR — measles, mumps, rubella — vaccine. The vaccine is safe and effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children receive their first dose of MMR vaccine between 12-15 months of age and a second dose between 4-6 years old. More than 95% of the people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to all three viruses. A second dose boosts immunity, typically enhancing protection to 98%.”

Long also notes infants, 6 to 11 months, should receive one MMR vaccine dose prior to traveling internationally.

“Though measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000, measles is still common in other countries,” she said. “Every year, measles is brought into the United States by unvaccinated travelers, who spread the disease to others who are not protected against measles.

“In 2018, there were 372 measles cases reported nationally. As of July 3, 2019, 1,109 measles cases have been reported nationally, and seven were reported in Georgia.”

To obtain more information about measles or to view a vaccination schedule list, visit https://ift.tt/1sQE2gd or https://ift.tt/11tHgd9, respectively.

“The immunization schedule lists the age or age range when each vaccine or series of shots is recommended,” Long said. “If you or your child — birth through six years old — or adolescent, age 7 through 18 years old, has missed any shots, consult the catch-up schedule and check with your health care provider about getting back on track.”

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