COCA Now: U.S. Measles Cases Still on the Rise: CDC Encourages Parents to Consult with Their Child’s Pediatrician about Measles Vaccine

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent this bulletin at 05/31/2019 02:00 PM EDT

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U.S. Measles Cases Still on the Rise:

CDC Encourages Parents to Consult with Their Child’s Pediatrician about Measles Vaccine

CDC is reporting 971 cases of measles in the United States thus far in 2019. This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1992, when 963 cases were reported for the entire year.

CDC encourages parents with questions about measles vaccine to consult with their child’s pediatrician, who know the children and community and want to help parents better understand how vaccines can protect their children. Concerns based on misinformation about the vaccine safety and effectiveness, as well as disease severity, may lead parents to delay or refuse vaccines. We work to ensure that the information parents receive is accurate and credible to make informed health decisions.

CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Family Physicians created Provider Resources for Vaccine Conversations with Parents to help clinicians assess parents’ needs, identify the role they want to play in making decisions for their child’s health, and then communicate in ways that meet their needs

Healthcare providers should report suspected measles cases to their local health department within 24 hours. Everyone 6 months and older should be protected against measles before traveling internationally. Babies 6 to 11 months old need one dose of measles vaccine before traveling. Everyone 12 months and older needs two doses. International travelers unsure of their vaccination status should consult with their healthcare provider before traveling.

More information about vaccines and travel guidance can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.

To learn more about what makes 2019 a historic year for measles and what clinicians can do to help identify cases and stop measles transmission, listen to the "Most Measles Cases in 25 Years: Is This the End of Measles Elimination in the United States?" COCA Call, and get free continuing education.

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