Why it is good to get the measles vaccine



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The measles vaccine has divided the country in two: some who support vaccination, others who are against it. The problem is that the measles epidemic in Romania started in February 2016 and has killed 59 people so far, according to the National Institute of Public Health in Romania.

Thirty-three of the deceased children were less than a year old. Seventeen children were between the ages of 1 and 3 and five children were between the ages of 4 and 17. Measles also killed four adults between the ages of 27 and 39.

Vaccines protect you from deadly diseases

Deadly diseases can be safely and easily prevented with vaccination. If the population is not vaccinated, diseases such as polio or measles reappear, becoming increasingly rare.

Worldwide, prior to the introduction of the measles vaccine, more than 90% of the population contracted the disease by the age of 10.

Measles can often have serious consequences for children who survive the disease, sometimes for life.

Doctors warn that high standards of hygiene and rigorous cleanliness do not prevent the spread of deadly diseases. Vaccination is the only proven method that provides adequate protection.

What is a vaccine and how does it work?

The vaccine is a biological preparation that contains killed or attenuated microorganisms or their fragments. After the vaccine is given, an immune (defense) response occurs, which protects us from disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms.

Vaccination and the term vaccine were introduced by Edward Jenner, an English physician who, in 1796, performed the first immunization against smallpox.

Today, according to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccination saves more than three million lives a year around the world. When vaccination coverage is high, the number of people who contract the disease drops significantly. In the absence of vaccination or when vaccination coverage falls below 90%, recurrence of the disease and epidemic manifestations are likely.

One of the most important results of the vaccination was the eradication of smallpox. The last case of smallpox was reported in Somalia in 1977, according to the WHO, leading to the cessation of vaccination against smallpox. For other diseases, WHO aims to eradicate (poliomyelitis, measles) and if this is achieved in these diseases, vaccination will stop.

Vaccines are safer and more effective than the vast majority of medicines, and their production is extremely controlled.

Although rare, contraindications to vaccination should be followed according to medical instructions.

Measles vaccine, the only method of prevention

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a vaccination coverage rate of at least 95%. In Romania, it is 81%, too low to provide adequate protection, UNICEF representatives say. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are needed to protect the population from the current epidemic and to prevent future epidemics.

The measles vaccine is safe

The MMR (measles – mumps – rubella) vaccine has been in use for approximately 45 years and so far more than 500 million doses have been administered in more than 100 countries around the world.

Between 2000 and 2015, measles vaccination prevented about 20.3 million deaths, proving that vaccination is one of the most effective public health investments globally.

Diseases that can be prevented with vaccination are serious and can lead to serious health complications and even death.

What is measles

Measles is an infectious disease that often leads to complications. Out of four people who contract measles, one needs hospitalization and the vaccine is an effective way to protect children from the disease. In 1980, before widespread vaccination, measles caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths worldwide. Due to vaccination, the number decreased more than 20 times in 2012.

Measles is a contagious infectious disease whose symptoms usually appear 10-12 days after contact with the virus and which, at first, can be confused with a common cold (runny nose, cough, low fever). As the disease progresses, the temperature rises, and a rash with red spots appears on the body that persists for 4-7 days. Measles often leads to complications that can affect almost any organ (pneumonia, encephalitis, etc.), can trigger severe diarrhea, dehydration, and even vision loss.

It is very important to know that only vaccination can protect the child from this disease and its complications. Two doses of the measles vaccine protect him almost 100% from the disease. Follow the diagram below to understand how vaccines work!

There are countless discussions about vaccination today. Beware of the following FALSE entries:

In conclusion, the vaccine is the surest way to protect your child from the infectious disease that has started to kill children again: measles.



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