Measles Depicts How Far Apart Certain Parents Are From Vaccines

Measles Depicts How Far Apart Certain Parents Are

The recent outbreak of Measles in parts of South Carolina is helping to highlight the emerging divide in the United States over vaccines, as people in the same neighborhoods are seeing a strong divide in whether or not vaccines are needed. “Officials said there are three new cases in the state. This brings the total number of cases related to the Upstate outbreak to 996,” according to Fox Carolina.

According to health officials, the small cluster of cases represents the way in which a lack of vaccination in certain parts of the country can lead to the return of highly contagious diseases. But the recent outbreak has also highlighted the way in which people have differing opinions on the matter.

A Disease Once Declared Eliminated

One of the most contagious viruses that medicine knows of is measles. In the years before the 1960s, when vaccines were not yet as common, millions of Americans were infected with the virus annually, with thousands dying from it.

However, the advent of the MMR vaccine changed this picture significantly. Immunization campaigns were conducted throughout the country, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finally announced that measles had been eliminated from the United States as early as 2000.

“Eliminated does not mean eradicated. It means that there is no ongoing domestic transmission, and that the majority of our outbreaks are caused by the importation of the virus from countries where measles is still common.”

However, the virus is still able to spread quickly once it enters communities with lower vaccination rates.

How the Outbreak Began

According to state health officials, the recent cases of the virus were caused by a traveler who unknowingly brought the virus from abroad.

However, the virus then spread among a number of people who were not vaccinated or whose vaccination status is uncertain. Due to the fact that the measles virus remains airborne for as long as two hours after the infected person leaves the room, the virus spreads quickly.

Some of the symptoms that the victims exhibit include fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. After this, the victims then develop a rash that spreads across their bodies. In some instances, the virus may cause pneumonia, swelling of the brain, and death, especially among young children.

Health officials have spent weeks investigating the virus and asking residents to check their immunization records.

A Divided Community

While some people quickly look for a vaccination or a booster shot after being informed of the outbreak, others are still not convinced. “And it’s not just Spartanburg. There are places around the country where vaccination rates have sunk to levels low enough to allow outbreaks to flare, says Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy,” according to NPR News.

In interviews with local media and local health officials, some parents are still concerned about the safety of vaccines. They want to give their children a natural immunity or want further research before giving their children a vaccine.

But for many in the community, the concern is quite different. Parents of young children, health care professionals, and elderly residents are concerned that the decline in immunizations makes the community more dangerous for those unable to be immunized, such as families with babies too young to be immunized, and people whose weakened immune systems prevent them from being immunized.

“It’s about protecting the whole community,” said one local pediatrician in an information meeting. “When vaccination rates decline, everyone becomes more vulnerable.”

The Role of Misinformation

Experts in public health say the gap in opinion about vaccines has been fueled in part by misinformation spread on the internet and through various social media sites.

False information about vaccines and autism, which was disproven years ago in scientific research, still plays a part in the decision-making process of some parents.

The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have repeatedly assured the public that the MMR vaccine is safe and effective in preventing measles, as well as mumps and rubella.

The vaccine is about 97 percent effective after two doses of the vaccine, according to federal health data.

Vaccine hesitancy is on the rise in the U.S. due in part to distrust of institutions, political divisions, and mixed messages about the safety of vaccines.

Local Health Response

In response, health authorities in South Carolina are launching several awareness campaigns encouraging people to get vaccinated.

Health clinics are opening their doors later in the evening, and mobile units are being sent to areas where access to healthcare is limited.

Health authorities are also working in schools to ensure children are meeting immunization requirements and are aware of possible exposure.

Local authorities say that most people in the area are still vaccinated, and that’s helped prevent the outbreak from spreading.

Despite that, the case highlights concerns that even small decreases in vaccination rates could ultimately lead to bigger outbreaks.

A National Trend

South Carolina’s case is part of a wider trend observed across the United States.

Vaccination rates for routine child immunizations have declined slightly over the past years across some states. Health experts say that this may compromise the “herd immunity” that prevents the spread of diseases like measles.

Some communities face a high risk of measles if the vaccination rates dip below 95 percent.

Some states have already recorded measles clusters over the past decade, particularly among communities where skepticism towards vaccines is more pronounced.

Bridging the Divide

For the local leaders in South Carolina, however, the challenge now isn’t just how to contain the outbreak, but how to win back trust.

According to health officials, the best solution to this problem may not be to confront the people, but to talk to them.

Doctors, nurses, and leaders are conducting informational sessions where people can ask questions about vaccines, side effects, and the dangers of preventable diseases.

Some people who were initially hesitant to vaccinate their children are now choosing to do so after consulting with health care providers to know more about the science behind it.

A Reminder of What’s at Stake

The measles outbreak in South Carolina may not be large, but it does highlight how quickly diseases can spread again.

For many public health experts, the situation in South Carolina represents the larger issue facing modern medicine: how to maintain confidence in vaccines that have been so successful, many people don’t remember the threats they once prevented.

As the effort to contain the outbreak continues, the conversations taking place among neighbors, parents, and health officials reveal how personal—and sometimes partisan—the topic has become.

For those in the field, however, the objective remains simple: to prevent a disease that has been eradicated from taking hold again.

By David Loran Jr

A successful Editor-in-Chief, journalist for over 6 years, writing about important topics that are going on within the U.S. and beyond.

Sources:

FOX Carolina: DPH: 30 people remain in quarantine, 3 new cases in Upstate Measles Outbreak

NPR News: In South Carolina, measles shows how far apart neighbors can be on vaccines

Featured Image Courtesy of DFID – UK Department for International Development’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

Inset Image Courtesy of Geoff Livingston’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License