Bay Area Health Officials Say Certain Demographics More At Risk After Disneyland Measles Outbreak
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — While county health officials in Alameda, Santa Clara and San Francisco aren't seeing an increase in demand for the measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, vaccine in the wake of the measles outbreak that began at Disneyland.
There are those of certain populations, however, who should ensure they are protected.
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Anyone born before 1957 are generally considered immune to measles as the virus was widespread at that time. But those between the ages of 51 and 56 may want to check with their doctor as the vaccine given during your childhood was still evolving.
"Anybody who received a vaccine before 1963 should probably have another series of the two doses," Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, service chief of infectious disease at Lucile Packard Children's Hopsital, told KCBS.
Those born outside the United States may also want to check with their doctors as various countries have different vaccination schedules and coverage rates.
Newborns are especially at risk during this outbreak as it's not advised for babies to get their first measles shot until 12 to 15 months of age.
"Those young children are at risk for risk for the highest complication rates for measles disease and yet they're not able to get the vaccine," Maldonado said.
The number of people who have opted out of receiving measles immunizations in California in the past decade has doubled due to the belief by many in now-discredited research linking the measles vaccine to autism.
While all states require certain vaccinations for schoolchildren, parents in certain states such as California can opt out if they sign a personal belief waiver.
Measles typically begins with high fever, coughing, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, two or three days after symptoms of measles begin, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth,
Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash breaks out usually beginning as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. Small raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots. The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body. When the rash appears, a person's fever may spike to more than 104° Fahrenheit.
After a few days, the fever subsides and the rash fades.