Measles is a highly contagious air borne virus causing fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a non itchy rash that starts from the face down. That occurs 7-18 days after exposure.
It can also be very serious and cause hospitalisation. Especially for those who are unimmunised and have a weakened immune system. Measles during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage and preterm labour. It can cause measles encephalitis, and inflammation of the brain. I have had one patient with this devastating impact.
The only way to prevent measles is to be immunised. The measles vaccine is in the Australian childhood immunisation schedule at 12 months and 18 months of age. If you are travelling overseas to a country with high measles activity talk to your GP if your child is between 6 months and 12 months. Your child can be immunised earlier. This provides some immunity but the routine schedule should still continue. If you are pregnant, you should only be immunised after you have had your baby.
The measles vaccine was first introduced to the Australian childhood immunisation schedule in 1970. The combined vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella was introduced in 1989. In 1992 a second dose of measles was introduced. This provided better immunity.
The measles vaccine is a live attenuated (weakened non pathogenic) vaccine. People who have a severely compromised immune system, have recently had another live vaccine; pregnancy or a current acute illness may not be suitable to have the vaccine. Talk to your GP about when it would be suitable for you to have the vaccine if needed.
Australia was verified to be measles free by the World Health Organisation in 2014. Unfortunately since then the National Centre for Immunisation Research and surveillance has reported a fall in the 5th consecutive year for childhood and adolescent vaccinations since 2020 leading to 80,000 children in Australia not being fully immunised. This is including the second measles mumps rubella vaccine. In NSW only 89% of children are fully immunised at 2 years of age.
There are well funded anti-vaccine campaigns that have spread disinformation about vaccines. The head of the health department in the USA is anti-vaccine. This creates less trust in science and medicine. And has led to significant outbreaks of measles in parts of the USA, where there has been a major decline in immunisations.
Parents want to do as much as they can to keep their children well. Childhood immunisations are the cornerstone for keeping kids healthy and free from vaccine preventable diseases.
If you are uncertain. Please speak to your early childhood nurse or GP.