Infectious Diseases Conference 2019

MEASLES OUTBREAKS: REINFORCING THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL INFANT IMMUNIZATION WEEK

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated April 27-May 4, 2019 as National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), an annual observance highlighting the importance of protecting infants against vaccine-preventable diseases. 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of NIIW and celebrates the impact of vaccines on improving public health. The more than 600 confirmed cases of measles in 22 states between January and April 2019 serve as a stark reminder of the need to collectively raise our voices in support of childhood vaccination.

Vaccinating young children on time is the best way to protect them against 14 serious and potentially deadly diseases before their second birthday. For children born between 1994 and 2018, vaccination will prevent an estimated 419 million illnesses, 26.8 million hospitalizations, and 936,000 deaths in their lifetimes. When parents choose not to vaccinate, or to follow a delayed vaccination schedule, children are left unprotected against diseases that can still circulate in the US, including measles and whooping cough. 

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Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases and may be associated with severe side effects including major neurologic damage, or even death. As the number of unvaccinated, susceptible children increase, the risk of an epidemic grows rapidly and is a real threat to all at-risk groups. The total number of confirmed cases of measles in the US in 2019 is estimated to be the largest since measles was eliminated in the US in 2000.

When the overwhelming majority of children are vaccinated as recommended, those few who are susceptible to serious medical diseases are much safer, a concept referred to as ‘herd immunity’ or ‘community immunity.’ As the pool of unvaccinated children increases, community immunity declines, which can pose a tragic and unnecessary threat to many children (and adults) who cannot be protected through vaccination.

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Measles is still commonly transmitted in many parts of the world. Globally, nearly 10 million individuals get measles and about 134,200, mostly children, die from the disease each year. Despite the national measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination coverage level of about 92%, one in 12 children in the US does not receive the first dose of MMR vaccine on time, underscoring measles susceptibility across the country. Vaccination coverage continues to vary by state from 84% in some states to 97% in others. At the county or local levels, vaccine coverage rates may also vary considerably and pockets of unvaccinated individuals can exist even in states with high vaccination rates.

What can you do to prevent measles?

• Healthcare professionals (HCPs) must strongly recommend MMR vaccination to their patients
• Children should get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at age 12 to 15 months, and the second dose at age 4 through 6 years
• Adults should review their own vaccination history and get an MMR booster vaccine if they are unsure about past vaccination or immunity
• All individuals travelling outside the US should consult with an HCP about recommended vaccines, including MMR 

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• Despite a national #MMR #vaccination coverage of nearly 92%, 1 in 12 children in the US does not receive the first dose of MMR #vaccine on time 
• Before the #chickenpox #vaccine was available, ~50 children died and more than 7,000 were hospitalized each year in the US 
• #Pneumococcal #vaccines have helped lower the estimated number of cases of invasive pneumococcal disease in young children by almost 90%#PreventPneumo
• For children born between 1994-2018, #vaccination will prevent an estimated 419M illnesses, 26.8M hospitalizations, & 936,000 deaths in their lifetimes 

Source: https://nfid.wordpress.com