Measles Cases Surge Among Unvaccinated Children In Texas

Amid a measles breakout among children in Texas, experts have reminded Americans that vaccines are safe, available and effective protection from the disease.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed that over two dozen people in Gaines County, Texas, were diagnosed with measles, with nine patients hospitalized.

Gaines County has one of the highest rates of vaccine exemptions in the state, and it has been confirmed that everyone identified with the disease is unvaccinated.

Infectious disease physician and senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Dr. Amesh Adalja told CBS News on Wednesday, “It is trouble because this was completely preventably…what we’re seeing is, one of the places in Texas – it has the lowest vaccination rates, the highest school exemption rates from measles vaccination – having measles outbreaks, including hospitalizations of individuals who’ve been infected with measles.”

Adalja continued, “It’s the most contagious infectious disease known to humans, and when we start to see measles outbreaks, that’s a sign that there is a chink in the armor of vaccination and the fact that it’s preventable, I think, is what people should understand. This doesn’t have to happen if we can get vaccination rates back to high levels again.”

“If somebody is fully vaccinated against measles and has a normal immune system, they don’t need to worry about measles…you’re not going to be at risk for contracting measles because the vaccine is very very effective.”

Studies have shown that a single dose of the MMR vaccine (which protects against measles, rubella and mumps) is 93% effective, while the recommended two doses are 97% effective. The vaccine has continually been proven to be safe to take in combination with other vaccines and medications.

A handful of states, such as Texas and Florida, have seen a rapid decline in vaccination rates, resulting in various widespread outbreaks. According to the CDC, the vaccination rate for kindergarteners in Florida has dropped to the lowest it’s been in decades at 88%.

Measles, an air-born disease, is known to have serious consequences for children, not uncommonly death. The two doses of the vaccine can be administered 28 days apart. Infants between six and 11 months should get an early dose of the vaccine.