In response to a growing number of questions, Dr. Elliot Frank, an Infectious Disease consultant and Medical Director for Quality and Outcomes at Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) has been working with Hackensack Meridian Health to get as much factual information out to our communities as possible.
What You Need to Know:
Measles is a highly contagious and serious disease that’s caused by a virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles was a very common childhood illness before a vaccine was developed. There were more than 500,000 cases of measles each year resulting in 48,000 hospitalizations and 500 deaths. Additionally, 1,000 people developed a chronic disability after a measles infection.
An effective measles vaccine was developed in the late 1960’s. With vaccination, measles cases have been dramatically reduced and practically eliminated in the United States. However, measles cases occur from time to time, primarily when people are exposed to measles when travelling to other places of the world. Outbreaks (or clusters of infections) have occurred in the U.S in communities where there are people who have not received the measles vaccine in the past. If you hear about a measles outbreak in your area, Jerry Zuckerman, M.D., vice president of Infection Prevention and Control at Hackensack MeridianHealth advises you take these important steps:
- Focus on prevention.“Measles is 100% preventable by vaccination,” explains Dr. Zuckerman. “Vaccination is recommended for all children and is the best way to ensure your loved ones are protected from this serious infection.” The measles vaccine is given with the vaccines for mumps and rubella (MMR) and is usually given in two doses (one shot at 12 months and a second shot at 4 to 6 years of age) but can be given as early as 6 months of age in special situations such as travel or during an outbreak. You can also get the MMRV vaccine (MMR plus varicella or chickenpox). MMRV is only approved for children between the ages of 12 months through 12 years. Ask your doctor which option is best for you or your child.
- Know your options. “Some people are too young or have health conditions that prevent them from being vaccinated,” adds Dr. Zuckerman. “Immunoglobulin is a medicine that has been shown to prevent measles if given within 6 days of exposure, but you must be aware of this option and consult with a doctor immediately if exposed.”
- Understand who is at high risk. Children less than 6 months of age, pregnant women without evidence of measles immunity, and people with weakened immune systems are at high risk of complications from measles and should speak to their doctor immediately if there’s any chance they’ve been exposed to the disease.
- Look out for signs and symptoms. Measles is a respiratory disease (in the lungs and breathing tubes) caused by the measles virus. Symptoms include: fever, often as high as 104 to 105 degrees, cough, stuffy or runny nose, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and a rash 2-5 days after symptoms begin. The rash generally spreads downward from the head to the trunk to the lower extremities.
- If you believe you have been exposed, call your doctor immediately. “Measles spreads through the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing,” Dr. Zuckerman describes. “People infected with measles are infectious four days before a rash appears and continue to be infectious four days after the rash appears. It is highly contagious to anyone who has not been protected by previously receiving the measles vaccine.”
- Find out if you’re protected. “If you have a record indicating that you received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, you are considered protected,” adds Dr. Zuckerman. “You can also have a blood test to confirm that you have protection. Finally, anyone born before 1957 is considered immune. Before 1957, all children were exposed to measles.”
- Help us protect our patients.“It can be extremely dangerous for people who are hospitalized to be exposed to measles and other viruses, such as the flu. If you or a family member has any sign of infection, especially during an outbreak or cold and flu season, we recommend that you please refrain from visiting patients in the hospital,” says Dr. Zuckerman.
Ask your doctor if you and your family need measles vaccinations. For additional information, please visit CDC.gov or State.NJ.us/Health.
Should you have questions about the outbreak, you can send your questions to [email protected], and we will forward them to Dr. Frank and the Infectious Diseases team at JSUMC who will answer your questions. You can also post your question in the comments section.
Questions can be submitted until 10 PM Sunday evening.
Dr. Frank –
Can you clarify the policy we should have in a daycare setting:
In the daycare my baby attends there are children too young to be vaccinated. But it seems that if the children and other family members of each infant are vaccinated, the measles won’t be brought into their homes and then into our daycare. Would it be a reasonable policy to tell all parents that in order to send their babies to daycare they must prove immunization for their entire household? I h ave heard that there ARE babies who come from homes where immunizations are not given and that has me very concerned.
Also, even if these children are vaccinated now, i have heard that it takes 2 weeks until effective. what precautions should we take to keep our daycare measles free until everyone coming into contact with these babies are protected?
Thank you.
i have a child that”s on unfortunately on immune suppressed medication. i am really nervous. why why why are unvaccinated children allowed into schools?
if someone has a belief that their children not be vaccinated go to your own school. i think that when schools get APPLICATIONS they should request immunization forms. if its not included throw application away, it will save the schools time fighting and arguing about the issue later.
Thank you Dr Frank for always being there for the community, your dedication is unsurpassed and we are so grateful!!!
fyi: i did make sure my cleaning lady is vaccinated (offer to pay for it)
Thank you so much Dr. Frank for being so loyal to the community!! We are so grateful for all you’ve done and continue to do for us.
Thank you dr frank for always being there for all your patients and the community. And making sure that you don’t get too many new patient 😉
Firstly we all owe Dr Frank a tremendous thank you for always going above and beyond the call of duty.
Secondly, can a women get the vaccine when shes pregnant if shes not up to date?
Dr. Frank is one of the top doctors in the state! It is very special of him to devote time to us.
@ worried mom. If you have a belief that should be implemented in the school system, open your own school. We live in a country with a free market BH when it comes to schools.
Thank you!
It’s people like Dr Frank that make this world, and this town specifically, a better place. With complete devotion, you always go the extra mile.
Dr.Frank helped our family member when no else has an answe to what was going on. Although he was on vacation he stayed in contact with us and the staff to make sure everything possible was being done. A brilliant doctor matched by his unbelievably good heart. An example of a true mentsch. We are forever grateful.
is there anywhere to go besides for my family doctor to take my kids to get vaccinated? there is a crazy long wait and there are tonz of ppl going there and im afraid of exposure in the waiting room.
Thank you Dr. Frank for giving much needed clarification on this issue!
@worried mom.
What should a school do if the board members or owner does not believe in vaccinations??