As measles cases rise, vaccine enthusiasm is growing: Shot

As measles cases continue to rise, some parents are asking if their children can get vaccinated early.

Karl Tapales/Moment RF/Getty Images

Hide captions

.

Karl Tapales/Moment RF/Getty Images

As measles outbreaks in West Texas and New Mexico continue to grow, and other states report their own outbreaks, some pediatricians across the United States say they are seeing new trends among worrying parents: vaccine enthusiasm.

“Our call center has flooded with MMR calls [measles, mumps, rubella] Vaccine says Dr. Shannon Fox Levinea pediatrician in Broward County, Florida. She says parents are asking if their child is up to date with vaccinations. Or “Should they get another vaccine? Should they get an extra vaccine? Can they get it sooner?”

measles It's quickly spread in the community Vaccination rates are low, and vaccine hesitancy has been increasing in recent years across the US. kindergarten Vaccination rates They haven't bounced back to their pre-pandemic levels.

Recent interest in MMR vaccines is protecting against measles, mumps and rubella — is an exhilarating change in the growing state of vaccine hesitancy.

Vaccination rates in Florida kindergartens to protect against measles It fell to 88.1% in the 2023-2024 academic year – Below the 95% vaccination rate that is thought to be necessary to protect against outbreaks. So, she says, it's “exciting” to see demand for vaccines.

Five US states currently experience measles outbreaks in New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. 400 confirmed cases as of Friday. so far, The US reports more than 480 measles Cases from 20 states. That's more cases than everything in 2024. Almost all cases are in people who have not been vaccinated.

Parents are seeing what is happening with these outbreaks, and concerns about potential exposures are growing. Before the measles vaccine developed in the early 1960s, it was a disease. It was used to kill hundreds of people Every year in the US.

Pediatrician, Southern Pines, North Carolina Dr. Christophe Diasio He says he's had many conversations over the past few weeks with families who are interested in getting vaccinated from measles earlier than what is usually recommended.

The first dose of the MMR vaccine is usually given between 12 and 15 months, with a second dose between the ages of 4 and 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Young 6-month-old infants say they can receive the MMR vaccine if they are traveling abroad or are in an outbreak area.

Diacio says families with children under 12 months are demanding early shots, especially if they have a spring break trip plan.

“Some families asked what our game plan is if they got measles in our community,” Diacio says.

In some cases, his patient family delays travel plans until the child is old enough to receive MMR shots, Diasio said.

“The main thing I'm hearing from patients is, 'Oh, well, I'm so scared of that measles vaccine. That's what I can have? Diacio says.

He says his mother, who spoke recently, was worried about the possibility that her unvaccinated relative could fly across the country to visit her. “It's awful that this is the argument we have to have,” Diacio said.

Interest in vaccinations has risen ahead of the spring break travel season, he says Dr. Susan Poora primary care pediatrician in the Chicago area.

“A lot of patients are calling us because we are traveling to Texas or a place near Texas, or to a state that suspects vaccination rates lower than Illinois,” says Shirota. “Many families are demanding early MMRs. [vaccines]. ”

While the outbreak of measles has been interested in vaccinations, Shirota says they are not the only factor. She says many families she works follow the news, and they worry that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. now may make the vaccine less accessible in the future. Longtime critics of the vaccine, He is the head of the Ministry of Health and Human Services.

“What I'm seeing is that access to vaccines is a problem, so there's a bit of a fear among moms, dads and parents about their ability to protect their children and prevent illness,” Shirota says.

And it's not just the measles vaccine. Shirota says some patients are worried about access to HPV Vaccine, Protects against human papillomavirus. HPV is best known for causing cervical cancer, but it can also cause other malignant tumors, including the throat and anus. Kennedy is involved in legal challenges for that vaccine.

During the Senate confirmation hearing, Kennedy said he would not take the vaccine from anyone. He calls vaccines a personal choice. NPR contacted HHS for comment on its plans to maintain people's access to vaccines. They didn't respond.

It is too early to determine whether anecdotal reports of vaccine enthusiasm will help counter the long-term trend towards increasing vaccine hesitancy. According to one 2024 Researchone in each US parent is hesitant to get the vaccine.

And it may be difficult in the future to study these attitude changes: the National Institutes of Health have Launched millions of dollars worth of grants Research to study vaccine hesitancy and ways to improve vaccination levels.

Edited by Jane Greenhulg