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From Charles Shamard, MD and Caroline Radnofsky
Some teens who have never been vaccinated against measles or chickenpox are recovering in question the anti-vaccine movement, even if Health officials condemn parents who chose not to vaccinate their children against the measles epidemic in 10 states.
One of these teenagers is Mayci, aged 18 and originally from Augusta (Georgia). the measles epidemic.
Mayci – who asked that her last name not be included because she feared to upset her mother – had never received a vaccine. The reason? The position of her mother, "the vaccines are bad, that's one thing we do not do, let her alone," said the teenager at NBC News.
"At the time of my birth, both of my parents were in agreement for an anti-vaccination," says Mayci. "Almost a year and a half ago, I left my mother's home and My father has a fairly neutral vision of vaccinations for the moment, but when I was born, he basically agreed with the beliefs of my mother and family. "
On Monday, Disease control and prevention confirmed 101 cases of measles Fifty-five of them were in the state of Washington, the epicenter of the epidemic. involved children under the age of 10 whose parents chose not to vaccinate them.
While growing up, Mayci thought that the mother had a negative view of the vaccines, and her mother used a religious exemption for Mayci not to be vaccinated. forced to be vaccinated at school and asked his friends to do the same.
When I & # 39; was 12, I remember my classmates saying "I hated to get vaccinated. "I said, 'What does that mean, you had to get vaccinated to go to school?'"
Georgia is one of 17 states that allow non-medical exemptions from health and safety requirements. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 47 states currently allow religious exemptions, and since 2009 the number of "philosophical" vaccine exemptions granted to state departments has increased. in 12 of the 18 states currently authorizing this policy.
"We are witnessing pockets of intense anti-vaccine activity," said Dr. Peter Hotez, pediatrician and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine from Waco, Texa "A social movement of opposition to public health vaccines has developed in the United States in recent years. Later, measles outbreaks also increased.
Experts believe that this is one of the reasons why anti-vaccination hot spots such as Clark County, in the state of Washington, have appeared. According to doctors and nurses, the recent epidemic is encouraging people to get vaccinated. According to the Washington State Department of Health, about 530 people were vaccinated against measles in January 2018. More than 3,000 vaccinations took place in January.
As vaccination is a medical procedure, in most cases adolescents under 18 years of age require the consent of a parent, guardian or other adult member of the family.
At age 17, Mayci spoke to her father about getting vaccinated at age 18. the decisions. He supports my judgment, "said Mayci. "The fact that I work in a medical practice has really taught me about myths and truths about vaccines."
In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the United States thanks to measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. this has been part of the childhood routine for decades. Measles is a very contagious disease, but people who receive the appropriate doses of the vaccine rarely get it, even if they are exposed.
Two doses of the vaccine – from 1 year to 15 months and a second dose of 4 to 6 years – provides about 97% protection. A very small number of people receiving both doses of measles vaccine will still have measles if exposed to the virus, although this is a less severe form of the disease. Experts do not know why.
The recent measles outbreak recalls that herd immunity – which occurs when enough people are vaccinated against an infectious disease to protect other members of the community – has collapsed in some communities. [19659007] Up to now, Mayci has received the TDAP vaccine and a flu shot. She plans to receive the MMR vaccine as well as vaccines against HPV, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and chickenpox later this year.
"I finished high school in May and I intend to specialize in clinical laboratory science at the university. , "she says." Because this is a field of health sciences, I absolutely must have the required vaccinations. "
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