Dayton Children’s encourages families to receive MMR vaccine

Dayton Children’s Hospital is encouraging families to vaccinate their child against measles by getting the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine after a measles case has been confirmed in the Dayton region. The MMR vaccine is a routine childhood vaccination given around 12 to 15 months of age and again at 4 to 6 years of age.

Measles is a very contagious, viral illness most often characterized by a red, blotchy rash on the skin that tends to develop first on the forehead. Initial symptoms typically appear between 8-12 days after exposure. Other symptoms include cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis (pinkeye), along with a fever.

Through vaccination, measles is a preventable disease. Here are four reasons why it’s important for a child to receive the MMR vaccine:

1. Measles is in our area. A measles case was recently confirmed in Clark County. Public health officials there said this is the first measles case the county has seen in 20 years. Throughout the state, there have been 77 cases of measles since an outbreak occurred in a Columbus area childcare center in mid-October. Most of these cases were in unvaccinated children.
    
2. Measles is very, very contagious. Measles is one of the most contagious illnesses we know of. It can linger in the air for two hours after an infected person leaves. If you are not vaccinated, there is a 90% chance you get measles if you are exposed.
    
3. Measles can be deadly. There is no treatment or medicine for measles, and in some cases, children can become very, very ill from the virus. According the Columbus Public Health, more than a third of children with confirmed measles had to be hospitalized.
    
4. The MMR vaccine is safe and effective. The vaccine is very effective at protecting individuals against measles, mumps and rubella and preventing serious illness. In fact, two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles.

We know the pandemic impacted well-visits, which may have resulted in missed vaccinations for your child, but it’s never too late to vaccinate for MMR. If your child hasn’t started their MMR vaccine series and they’re 12 months or older, please reach out to their pediatrician to schedule a visit.