Everything you need to know about the measles vaccine

Faced with the tsunami of information and arguments for and against getting your child vaccinated, here is a bit of medical information about measles and the measles vaccine.

Measles is caused by a virus and is one of the most infectious diseases in the world. It is characterized by red patches that usually appear on the face before spreading to the rest of the body.

In addition to having red blotches on the skin, people with measles exhibit the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Cough
• Nasal discharge
• Red and watery eyes
• Tiny whitish spots in the mouth, on the insides of the cheeks

Although most people with measles recover completely after two or three weeks, complications can arise.

Complications can include:

• Ear infection
• Lung infection
• Convulsions
• Encephalitis (brain inflammation).

In some cases, damage to the brain can cause seizures, developmental delays or death.

Mortality is estimated to be 1 in 1,000. Moreover, in pregnant women, measles increases the risk of miscarriage.

Measles is a highly contagious childhood disease for which there is still no cure. Prevention remains the only defence against this disease, which can cause complications in 10 per cent of the people who contract it.

Healthcare professionals think you should get your child vaccinated against measles because an infected person may spread the virus to a baby too young to be vaccinated or to people who can’t receive the vaccine for other reasons, such as pregnancy or cancer.

If you decide to have your child vaccinated against measles, two possibilities are available:

• The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella)
• The MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella)

To be effective, vaccination against measles requires two doses. Efficacy is estimated at between 85 and 95 per cent with the first dose, and it rises to nearly 100 per cent with the second.

Consult a healthcare professional to determine the recommended immunization schedule in your province or territory.

If your child has not been vaccinated and is exposed to measles, consult a doctor or public health nurse to discuss your options.

• If your child is too young to be vaccinated, he or she can receive an injection of antibodies for protection against the virus.

If your child does contract measles, limit its spreading by avoiding contact with other people during the first four days after the rash appears.

Only you can make the decision about the health of your children, just be sure to consider all research before making a decision about getting your child vaccinated against measles.