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Since the New Jersey Department of Health confirmed the state’s first 2015 case of the measles in a 1 year old from Jersey City, every parent in the Garden State has had one question on their minds—How do I protect my family?
Whether you’re trying to keep your baby, your preschooler or yourself healthy, follow these tips, courtesy of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
1. If your infant is younger than 12 months:
· Infants younger than 6 months are generally protected from measles for 6 months after birth due to immunity passed on by their moms during pregnancy
· If your baby is 6–11 months, there are some steps you can take to protect them:
· If they have been exposed to measles, they can receive the measles vaccine if given within 72 hours of exposure. This may offer some protection or make symptoms less severe.
· During a measles outbreak or if you are traveling with your 6–11 month old child—especially outside the U.S., infants can and should receive the MMR vaccine. This prevention action does not change the recommendation that they also receive the usual doses at 12–15 months and 4–6 years.
2. If your child is 1–4 years old, but has received their first dose of MMR:
· If a local case is reported, children 1-4 years of age can receive the second dose earlier than the recommended age, as long as it is at least 28 days after their first dose.
3. If you suspect your child has been exposed to measles at school or another public place:
Experts recommend maintaining vigilance for the early flu-like signs of measles, such as fever, cough and conjunctivitis (pink eye). These are the precursors to the onset of measles’ telltale rash. Don’t wait for the rash to appear—contact your pediatrician to let him or her know your child has been exposed, even if you just suspect that might be the case.
4. If you are reconsidering prior hesitation to having your child vaccinated:
· Make an appointment with your pediatrician immediately. The MMR is one of the most effective immunizations and it is safe. Decades of credible scientific studies continue to confirm the safety of the MMR vaccine.
· There are some instances when the MMR is not recommended and your pediatrician will share this important information with you during your office visit.
5. What about adults?
· If you were born before 1957 and had measles as a child, you don't need to worry about getting the disease again. People born in the years right after 1957 most likely received the first version of the vaccine. This version wasn't as effective as the version introduced in 1968, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those people should consider themselves unvaccinated
· Unsure if you’re protected against measles? Talk to your doctor. If you can’t find records of immunity, another MMR dose will not harm you. Remember, children can contract measles from an adult.
· Before scheduling a vaccination, check with your insurance provider to confirm the MMR for adults is covered.
Remember: The single most important step caregivers can take to protect their children from measles is to have them vaccinated according to the immunization schedule recommended by AAP, the CDC and prescribed by your pediatrician. The Measles vaccine (MMR: Measles/Mumps/Rubella) is given in two doses—the first when a child is 12–15 months old and the second when a child is 4–6 years old. Children under 12 months of age are not typically immunized, and this is what makes them especially susceptible to this potentially dangerous disease.
More On The Measles:
5 Things NJ Parents Should Know About The Measles
Measles Case Confirmed in NJ
