NY Measles Public Health Emergency
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a statewide emergency as measles spreads through rural parts of the state. As part of her emergency order, pharmacists, midwives, and other health care workers have been authorized to administer the MMR vaccine.
Prior to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr and Donald Trump meddling with the recommended schedule of childhood vaccinations, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age. A second dose should follow between ages 4 and 6.
The two doses confer a 97% rate of measles prevention (and decrease the odds of hospitalization and serious complications in the very few who acquire the disease despite being fully vaccinated).
The greatest risk is in infants too young to receive the regularly scheduled doses. Due to the outbreaks and the low community vaccination rates, an earlier first dose may be given in babies as young as 6 months (termed “dose 0”) to confer some protection, but it is important to follow up with the subsequent two recommended doses according to the schedule to achieve full immunity.
Most of New York’s cases are in rural counties, especially in the upstate Finger Lakes region. Low vaccination rates appear to be fueling the spread.
In the counties hit hardest, fewer than 80% of children got their first measles shot by age 2, The NY Times reports. In rural Yates County, that rate is closer to 53%. When vaccination rates have slip below the 95 percentile needed to achieve so called “herd immunity” outbreaks of very highly contagious measles are likely to occur.
There is a lot of lay confusion over the term “herd immunity.” This term only means that when a high portion of the population are immune to a certain disease (either through vaccination or having previously had measles) the susceptible individual has a high probability of not contacting an infectious person. Herd immunity cannot offer the same level of protection that immunization does.
Kudos to Governor Hochul for her early recognition of the problem and her activation of proper Public Health actions to minimize the threat.
Prior to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr and Donald Trump meddling with the recommended schedule of childhood vaccinations, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age. A second dose should follow between ages 4 and 6.
The two doses confer a 97% rate of measles prevention (and decrease the odds of hospitalization and serious complications in the very few who acquire the disease despite being fully vaccinated).
The greatest risk is in infants too young to receive the regularly scheduled doses. Due to the outbreaks and the low community vaccination rates, an earlier first dose may be given in babies as young as 6 months (termed “dose 0”) to confer some protection, but it is important to follow up with the subsequent two recommended doses according to the schedule to achieve full immunity.
Most of New York’s cases are in rural counties, especially in the upstate Finger Lakes region. Low vaccination rates appear to be fueling the spread.
In the counties hit hardest, fewer than 80% of children got their first measles shot by age 2, The NY Times reports. In rural Yates County, that rate is closer to 53%. When vaccination rates have slip below the 95 percentile needed to achieve so called “herd immunity” outbreaks of very highly contagious measles are likely to occur.
There is a lot of lay confusion over the term “herd immunity.” This term only means that when a high portion of the population are immune to a certain disease (either through vaccination or having previously had measles) the susceptible individual has a high probability of not contacting an infectious person. Herd immunity cannot offer the same level of protection that immunization does.
Kudos to Governor Hochul for her early recognition of the problem and her activation of proper Public Health actions to minimize the threat.
