We’re Ignoring the Biggest Cause of the Measles Crisis

Abstract

This paper reviews the importance of scheduled vaccinations. In the article “We’re Ignoring the Biggest Cause of the Measles Crisis” by Jennifer Light, Ms. Light reviews the reasons as to why The New York City measles outbreak first occurred. Children had not been receiving their proper vaccinations on time because of their parents worry. Vaccinations has been seen as a negative effect in the American eyes and parents worry about the safety of their children. However when timely vaccinations are not met because parents do not want their child being fussy over more than one shot, it becomes a domino effect that would lead to faster spread of diseases. Light explains that “vaccine hesitant” parents are the ones who need the most motivation and doctors shall begin to persist the value and need of scheduled vaccinations within clinics. Doing this can prevent up to 42,000 deaths over the American lifetime (Light 2019) and less likely chances of disease spread. New York City has risen from its measles outbreak and now the law states that not even religious practices shall exempt a child from receiving their scheduled vaccinations.

We’re Ignoring the Biggest Cause of the Measles Crisis

    New York City has just erupted with cases of measles outbreak. The outbreak had first occurred in 2018 leading into 2019. Children were not receiving their yearly vaccinations on time before the start of the new school year which inhibited to the spread of this infectious disease. Vaccination conspiracies have influenced many parents to question and doubt the need of early vaccines. Seeing as children have a higher tolerance to diseases, one sick child can cause a domino effect to all children in proximity once in contact. Measles is an infectious viral disease of pigs and other animals caused by the encysted larvae of the human tapeworm that result in fever and red skin rashes. Jennifer Lighter had published an opinion piece on September 22, 2019 discussing the New York measles outbreak causes and solutions. The problem people are most fixated on is the “global anti-vaccine movement” (Lighter 2019, p. 1), yet Lighter indicates that the “vaccine hesitant” (Lighter 2019, p. 1) group are the primary reasons for the breakout. Parents bring it upon themselves to vaccinate their children when they want too and not follow the scientific way it is to be distributed, no matter the doctor’s concerns. This is not a solution to the anti-vectors movement and does not bring about any benefits for young children in school. Instead, timely required vaccines should be followed for both children and adults, especially within all educational environment.

    There are more than 1.1 million children in the New York City public school system ranging from grades k-12. About 25% of infants in New York do not get all the required vaccinations needed before they are 9 months old (Lighter 2019, p.1). Lighter had first spoken to parents about the issue of vaccinating their children, yet the parents were not anti-vaxxers, instead they did not want their child being fussy over more than one injection at a time. They rather come to more than one appointment for injections. With vaccine hesitant parents sending their children off to school vaccine less, it leaves a wide range of possibilities that another child, even if vaccinated but not likely, will be prone to whatever infection the unvaccinated child has. This is not only hazardous to the kids at school but the adults working in these schools as well. 

    The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, who inhales experts, makes it regular that evidence-based vaccinations be collected to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which produces a safer environment (p.1). Lighter had interviewed doctors of patients who have caught measles and found that their parents are the causes behind them. Parents are looking out for what is best for their child, however, there lies the safety of others when wanting to protect your child. Health centers are big benefactors in aiding the progression of vaccines being distributed to kids. With health clinics putting into play and enforcing the recommended vaccine timeline for both children and adults, if done correctly these vaccinations can prevent “about 42,000 deaths over the lifetime of American birth cohort” (Lighter 2019, p.1). Cases where parents feel as though vaccinations cause immune harm has not been proven, yet their other concern is time and rather prefer being seen more frequently by doctors for vaccination than one sit and go.

Putting an end to the measles epidemic took a team work effort among communities, doctors and public health officials. There was more than 60 percent of children under the age of five out of 650 people who had caught the measles illness critically. Once the partnership started, vaccinations of measles, mumps and rubella were distributed in more than 33,000 doses (Lighter 2019, p.1) to New York City residents. Its outcome showed decrease in measles spread throughout individuals upon receiving the vaccine. Our solution had been with a needle and an injection, it needs to be heard. If parents continue to delay their children and their own vaccinations, future outbreaks are more likely to occur. The best and most effective way of preventing yourself from lying sick in a hospital bed is getting vaccinated on time sufficiently.

Wanting what is best for our children is within a parents intuition. It is vital that parents are aware of the reasoning and need for their child to be vaccinated in a scheduled based matter. Doctors are monitored by the New York City Department of Health and Mental hygiene to see the chain of people who are receiving their scheduled vacation should he made aware by everyone, especially those who have financial inducements. Vaccines are being misunderstood by many Americans because of misleading cases that insisted that vaccines caused autism. However the measles outbreak had been conquered by a series of vaccine doses being dispensed amongst the New York City residents and those in Brooklyn communities. New York had enacted a law this year indicating that religion was no longer a privilege that protected children from non vaccinations and a step forward in ensuring the safety of health in public school. It is time to move forward and into the future with science and medicine expanding causing more benefits than destruction to human life.

ReferenceLighter, J. (2019, September 22). We’re Ignoring the Biggest Cause of the Measles Crisis. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/22/opinion/anti-vaccine-parents.html