Update on US measles outbreaks
🔴As of February 27, 2025 there have been 164 cases of measles in the US so far this year. Most cases have been in Texas
🔴98% of the people involved in these outbreaks are either unvaccinated or (95%) or only had one dose (3%)
🔴81% of these people involved in this outbreak were children and adolescents
🔴20% of these measles cases have been severe enough to be hospitalized (kids are not hospitalized due to “quarantine” as the HHS secretary said during a press conference last week, they are hospitalized because of severity of symptoms).
🔴 an unvaccinated child in Texas passed away last week from the measles. Again, contrary to what the secretary of the HHS stated, deaths from measles are not normal or common occurrences. We haven’t had a childhood death from measles in the United States for 22 years and we haven’t had a death from measles in any age for a decade.
🔴we do not see measles outbreaks in communities where we have herd immunity, meaning 95% of the community is immune to measles. The MMR vaccine is 97% effective after 2 doses. Nationally the US herd immunity level has dropped to 92% with some parts of the country being much much lower.
🔴 please get your children vaccinated if they are not. this will protect your children, as well as those who are too sick to mount an immune response to the vaccine and those who are too young to be vaccinated.
As the measles outbreak continues to impact the US, understanding the importance of vaccination is more crucial than ever. With a herd immunity threshold of 95%, areas with lower vaccination rates are seeing significant outbreaks. The MMR vaccine, which is highly effective, is critical in protecting not only children but entire communities. Recent statistics show that 81% of measles cases occur in children and adolescents. This demographic is particularly vulnerable, making the urgency for correct vaccination paramount. The vaccine provides a 97% efficacy after two doses, and the importance of ensuring children receive both doses cannot be stressed enough. Parents should be aware that the risk of severe complications from measles is increased for unvaccinated individuals. In light of recent events, including the tragic death of an unvaccinated child, public health officials are reiterating the message: vaccinations save lives. It's vital for communities to come together to achieve herd immunity, as historically, we have not seen deaths from measles in the US for over a decade. Vaccinate your children to protect them and those who cannot be vaccinated due to health reasons.
We need to teach that herd immunity is NOT everyone catching a deadly disease and surviving but being immune from it to protect those who cannot be immunized from it!