 |
| Measles cases reported in the United States before and after introduction of the vaccine. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Measles, a disease previously thought to have been eradicated from the U.S., has been making a comeback. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 120 people have reported contracting measles since the beginning of 2015, many of them because of an outbreak originating at Disneyland in California.
All Moms Worry About Their Kids
All mothers worry about their kids.
We worry because we know too much and feel like we can do too little if
something major happens. After all, diseases are more powerful than we are. We
are just moms… The media is no longer focused on Ebola because a more familiar
less exotic disease has gotten their attention, the measles. The measles was
largely unreported in the last few decades because of the vaccination efforts
that began in 1957. However, the measles outbreak that started at Disney Land a
couple of months ago.
The comeback of the measles has
gotten every mom’s attention, especially moms of babies like my son who are too
young to be vaccinated. As moms, we try to do the best we can to protect our
kids. We do this by relying on science and our instincts. Generally, that
combination leads to good results. However, your instincts are only as good as
your ability to manage your fears.
Moms You Can Manage Your Fears and Protect Your Kids
Fears run amok tend to make
instincts unreliable. And as moms, it is easy to allow our fears to get out of
control because we love our kids so much. I know because I almost drop kicked a
little girl with a runny nose who walked to touch my baby. Fortunately, I
managed to back up stroller in time to avoid impact.
The fears about kids getting autism
has caused more parents to not vaccinate their children. That is a fact. I have
friends who have made this decision and I get it. While the report connecting the
MMR vaccine to autism has been proven to be false no answers were found. That
is why the report still has traction. In the absence of answers, people fill in
the blanks based on their instincts, which in this case are largely fueled by
fear.
I won’t attempt
to shame or embarrass any mom who doesn’t vaccinate her kids. I also don’t
judge a mom who makes that choice. Like me, she is doing the best she can with
the information she has. That said, it is proven that people who are not
vaccinated are more likely to contract and therefore spread the disease.
Accordingly, moms of babies need to take measures to protect them until this
measles outbreak is under control. Below are some tips.
The ABC’s of Protecting Your Baby
from the Measles
1.
Ask whether everyone who
can be vaccinated for the measles has been vaccinated.
2.
Be careful of who holds
your kids.
3.
Consciously think about
where you take your kids before they are vaccinated.
Here are two articles where you can obtain more detailed
information.
Comments