MMR VaccineThe Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air by coughing and sneezing. Before the development of the vaccine, millions of cases were reported as outbreaks occurred worldwide. In the 90's the United States saw several resurgences of the disease. In the time period between 1993 and 2001, over 53,000 cases were reported in 814 separate outbreaks (National Vaccine Information Center.) By the year 2000, about 90% of school children had received the MMR vaccine and the Measles was no longer an endemic. The number of individual who contracted the disease showed a drastic decrease. Unfortunately, beginning in the year 2008 the United States began to see a climb in the number of cases. The year 2014 hit a peak of 634 cases. So why has the number of cases been increasing after we seemingly had the virus under control? The fact is: it's not the vaccine that isn't working. When people choose not to vaccinate their child, they are putting their child at risk even though the Measles doesn't seem to be an issue anymore. One infected person puts anyone they come in contact with who has not been vaccinated at high risk. With outbreaks still occurring worldwide, the only way to protect your child is to choose to vaccinate them.
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