Public health officials are advising parents in Texas communities hard hit by the measles outbreak to vaccinate their children ahead of schedule, as early as 6 months of age.
But what about children in other parts of the country? Should they adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation of a first shot at 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years of age for the second?
Pediatricians’ offices are being flooded with calls from parents concerned about the risk that the highly contagious virus poses to their young children, especially after the death of an unvaccinated 6-year-old child in Texas and an unvaccinated person in New Mexico.
While more than 200 of the 300-plus cases of measles this year have occurred in Texas and New Mexico, cases also have been reported in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
How high is the risk?
The CDC says the risk for widespread measles outbreaks across the U.S. remains low due to high vaccination rates against the disease.
But parents who have concerns should definitely consult with health care providers, especially if they are traveling to areas where measles is present, says Neil Maniar, director of Northeastern’s master of public health program.
“It’s something for us to think about, especially with spring break and travel,” says Carla Bouwmeester, a Northeastern clinical professor of pharmacy and health systems sciences.
