CDC Recommends Earlier Vaccination for Measles if Travelling

Parents, if your baby is going to be a world traveller, the CDC has released an important report on having your baby vaccinated for measles.

Even though measles is considered eliminated in the United States, there are still cases of it every year, due to what’s known as “import” cases ( cases where people travel and bring the disease home with them). The CDC report highlights instances of measles in the US for the two months of 2011, and of the 29 cases reported, 28 of these fall under that category.

 The report also highlights seven import cases of measles in children aged 6 months to two years, four of which resulted in hospitalization. These cases are of particular interest because children are more likely to have a serious case of the disease and may be at greater risk for the side effects and complications that can stem from measles.

The measles vaccine (or MMR, which stands for measles, mumps, and rubella) is typically administered between the ages of 12 and 15 months, but many parents will travel with their babies before this time. The CDC is releasing a policy recommendation proposing that babies between 6 and 11 months should receive one dose of the vaccine if they will be travelling. Those over 12 months should receive two doses, with 28 days in between the first and the second dose.

The CDC is also advising that doctors be on the lookout for children who present with symptoms such as rash and fever, who have recently travelled internationally. Many doctors aren’t considering a diagnosis of measles, which can lead to delayed treatment and spreading of the disease.

The full report on import measles can found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.