EUGENE, Ore. — The U.S. is currently seeing the biggest measles outbreak in more than 30 years—many of those cases in children. Local pediatricians say the MMR vaccine is the best line of defense against measles, mumps and rubella.
At Eugene Pediatric Associates, pediatricians routinely field questions from parents about the MMR vaccine. The fact is the vaccine is extremely effective and most who get the vaccine won’t get sick even if they’re exposed.
“The MMR vaccine prevents measles, mumps and rubella,” says Dr. Pilar Bradshaw, with Eugene Pediatric Associates. “Two doses of MMR gives you a better than 97% lifetime immunity from measles. That’s incredible.”
Diseases can be very serious
Dr. Bradshaw says measles, mumps and rubella are more serious than many people realize. The measles virus causes fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash—roughly 10 to 20% of those who contract measles are hospitalized. It’s also very contagious…