Like many other health disparities, there is a difference in the immunization rate for Black and white children.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 66.5% of children 19 to 35 months old are fully immunized compared to 71.5% of white children. The gap is not as large for children who have received MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccinations, but a recent surge in measles cases in Missouri and the United States is concerning to health officials.
According to the CDC, a total of 64 measles cases were reported in 17 areas in the state of Missouri, as of March 21, 2024.
Nationally, the total number of measles cases has already reached the level that occurred during the entire year of 2023, as reported by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).
As the number of vaccinations continues to decrease, measles cases or outbreaks have emerged in several states. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends parents and guardians check their child’s vaccination records to make sure they have received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Statewide, the MMR vaccination rate among kindergarteners has dropped steadily from 95.4% in the 2016-2017 school year to 90.5% at the start of the 2023-2024 school year, according to preliminary data reported by Missouri school districts.
According to the DHSS, 92% of kindergarten-aged students are vaccinated in St. Louis County while 74% of kindergarten-aged students are vaccinated in St. Louis city.
While religious (non-medical) exemptions have simultaneously increased from 1.9% to 3.5% accounting for some of the decrease in vaccination rates, state epidemiologist George Turabelidze said travel is also playing a role in the decrease.
“A lot of U. S. residents travel abroad, and many countries are experiencing measles outbreaks as well because this vaccination is down worldwide, not just in the United States. If they are not vaccinated, they bring it back,” he said.
“Every time your population or community vaccination rate drops below 95 percent, especially below 90%, this is a setup for a measles outbreak.”
Turabelidze spoke with the St. Louis American concerning measles outbreaks, possible side effects of the vaccine and next steps to protect those most vulnerable to the disease – children and immunocompromised individuals.
The measles vaccine gives those vaccinated with just one dose 93% protection against measles infection. Both doses of the vaccine provide individuals with a 97% protection rate throughout their lifetime, according to the DHSS.
“I think the public should be aware that measles was one of the major killers among infectious diseases going back not too far, even in the mid-20th century,” Turabelizde said.
“We have high rates of vaccinations in this country and because of mass vaccinations, this disease has become unknown.”
Herd immunity, achieved through a measles vaccination rate of 95% or more, is crucial for preventing disease outbreaks.
“Achieving this level of vaccination creates a barrier that limits the spread of infectious disease within a community, safeguarding those who are unable to be vaccinated due to their age or compromised immune systems,” Turabelidze said.
“If you don’t vaccinate preschoolers now, generation after generation, you will continue [to see] dropping vaccination rates.”
Measles is a highly contagious and serious disease, especially serious for children under age five and those who are immunocompromised. Common symptoms include a rash that starts as flat red spots on the head and spreads to other parts of the body, high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and tiny white spots inside the mouth.
The virus spreads through coughing and sneezing and can live for up to two hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves an area. If not treated, complications can grow in severity including an elevated risk of hospitalization and pneumonia.
“In some cases, you can develop a brain infection and end up in a death outcome, so it is a serious disease, and we encourage everyone to be protected,” Turabelidze said.
This vaccine has been used in the United States since the 1970s and is a safe and effective way to protect children from measles, according to the DHSS.
To be fully immunized, the DHSS recommends children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first dose between ages 12-15 months and the second dose between ages 4-6 years old. Infants as young as 6 months can receive the first dose if traveling to areas where the measles infection rate is high, according to the DHSS. Families should consult their healthcare provider to discuss appropriate vaccine options for their children.
Most health insurance plans cover vaccines, but individuals should check with their insurance provider to verify coverage. For those without insurance, the Vaccines for Children Program, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides free vaccines to children who qualify.
Just an opinion, (or a couple of them). First, I believe that the rush to market of the Covid vaccine(s) was partially to blame for the panic and distrust, with the lack of open and clear information and the mandates for the use of these providing much of the rest. Secondly, if a person chooses, for whatever reason, not to use a vaccine, then so be it, (borrowing some of the pro-choice logic), it is ones own life and body. Should that person actually contract that disease or malady, they should expect no help from insurance coverage. It was their own decision.