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PHOENIX (FOX 10) – The number of people who do not vaccinate their children in Arizona continues to increase, which worries our health officials as this could expose the state to a measles outbreak next year.
The health officials with whom we spoke said that they wanted to maintain a baseline of 95% of people vaccinated against measles, but they say that number continues to decline, which worries them.
Little Asher made his way into the world a little earlier than anyone would have liked – delivered in just 29 weeks.
"So it weighed two pounds, six ounces and measured about 14 inches long.I remember seeing his head at that time and it was barely bigger than a tennis ball. I've never seen such a thing, "said his mother, Breann Vogt.
His tiny body – unable to get vaccinated, terrified his mother at the time. But his worry is still not over. Although Asher is doing better now and is healthy enough to be vaccinated, his immune system is compromised because of his chronic lung disease.
"He's still susceptible to any respiratory infection, any kind of illness … he's just numbering his lungs and his organs," Breann said.
His concern is the number of parents who choose not to vaccinate their children.
"Every year, you think that the situation will improve and the situation will get worse, so we stayed at home and we do not do our usual work because we can not believe we have this situation. Herd immunity, we can not believe that people are gaining the right decisions to vaccinate their children, leaving us at home to protect our son, "she said.
This is a concern that echoes the Arizona Department of Health.
"We are seeing an increase in the number of parents who choose not to vaccinate their children in the last three years," he said. Dr. Cara Christ, Director of the AZ Department of Health Services.
Over the past 18 years, this number has increased by 5%. According to health officials here in Arizona, 6 out of 10 kindergarten clbadrooms are not adequately protected against a measles outbreak.
"Our public health recommendation is to get vaccinated, vaccines are safe and effective," said Christ.
The Ministry of Health says that if your vaccine status is of concern to you, you can contact your health care provider. You can also contact the Arizona Health Services Department to do a search if you are from Arizona.
Vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR):
What everyone should know
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html
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