The measles are now spreading quickly in the United States, with 102 cases spread across 14 states. So, where did the outbreak start? In 2014, it started near Mickey and Minnie Mouse and the Cinderella Castle in Disney Land, California. Most of the time, the measles cases are brought into the United States internationally from those who haven’t been vaccinated. Vulnerable communities that are usually affected the most include Orthodox Jewish communities in Brooklyn and the Amish in Ohio. Interestingly, Vashon Island, Seattle has the lowest vaccination rates of any health district in the country.
The measles can be caught simply by breathing the same air as an infected person. The virus can survive suspended in air for several hours before passing onto another person. Measles can cause deafness, high fevers, and rashes, especially for young children. The most shocking fact is that there was a simple way to prevent this outbreak from occurring: vaccination.
Today, some parents in America think that getting the vaccine for measles is unnecessary. This shot is given to children when they reach one year of age, and then it is re-administered to the child between the ages of four and six. The outbreak that has infected over 100 children in just six weeks has a fairly simple solution for prevention. However, some parents do not think it is necessary for their kids to get these shots and simply assume that their immune systems will fight off the disease. Others think that the vaccination wouldn’t be safe for their children, believing that it will result in autism or other mental illnesses.
Many politicians have spoken out about their views on this issue, with both sides of the argument being represented. Hillary Clinton tweeted, “The science is clear: The earth is round, the sky is blue, and #vaccineswork. Let’s protect all our kids. #GrandmothersKnowBest.” Senator Rand Paul agrees with the handful of parents who do not want their children to get the vaccination. He finds the claims that vaccines in the past have lead to mental disorders to be enough to stay away from vaccination. Although, as Dr. Linda Fu from Children’s National Health System claims, the vaccines are both safe and effective, the choice to vaccinate seems to be a personal decision carrying political weight.