First mumps, then measles outbreak...

vaughanmk · May 5, 2006

Thanks for the heads up. None of my physicians working tonight in the ED have heard this yet.

buddiage · May 5, 2006

Could be that lax people are "not getting around to it." Nobody knows how long the vaccines work, and it all depends on the amount of MMR people are exposed to. Another thing too, I was thinking of a sizeable amount of people who are on the bandwagon not to get vaccines because the belief that sufficient immunity "could be built up nutritionally," or some other fringe theory. I wouldn't be suprised to see a few cases, although I'm not epidemiologist or anything.

supermo · May 5, 2006

"A report issued last month noted that in 2004, Kansas ranked 43rd among states in the percentage of children under 3 who have received proper vaccinations, at less than 78 percent. The report was commissioned by a new public-private effort to boost vaccination rates."

I think that says a lot right there. They are saying that the immunizations don't work for some of the people that get them, but I guarantee that they work for none of the people who don't.

Noryn · May 5, 2006

I think our generation has been spoiled quite a bit. I havent had any immunizations since I was 5 which was twenty five years ago (except Hep B). My mother was a nurse and even my family doctor never inquired about current immunizations and I had a few doctors. I think everyone took for granted that measles, mumps, etc were no longer a threat. Add in the fact that immunizations were starting to be a real liability as they were being accused to causing autism and a few other things (which I dont know either way but they have saved many lives).

danigirl58 · May 5, 2006

in one of the canadian provinces parents were told to have and get all their child's immigration records (these were high school students) by a certain time and date or their child would be suspended for a set period of time. now i'm not really sure of all the stuff involved i just remember seeing it on the news

L&Dnurse2Be · May 5, 2006

How scary...I just found out that I have no immunity for MMR. I just had my titer levels tested. My daughter got the measels from her shots last year. It's a good thing I didn't get them too! Now I'm off to have a booster shot. FUN!

marilynmom, LPN, NP · May 5, 2006

"A report issued last month noted that in 2004, Kansas ranked 43rd among states in the percentage of children under 3 who have received proper vaccinations, at less than 78 percent. The report was commissioned by a new public-private effort to boost vaccination rates."
I think that says a lot right there. They are saying that the immunizations don't work for some of the people that get them, but I guarantee that they work for none of the people who don't.

Thanks for sharing that. I'll be interested in finding out what the vax status of those infected.

HeavenBound0530 · May 5, 2006

I had to go get a physical the other day for nursing school and along with my tetorifice booster she put in pertusis (whooping chough) cause she said that's been goin around too, they've had 10 kids come in within 3 das that all had whooping cough so you might wanna watch out for that in your areas as well. I think it's because people just don't keep up with their vaccines and therfore people are getting sick with these illnesses cause they don't have any immunity to them.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · May 5, 2006

Another thing too, I was thinking of a sizeable amount of people who are on the bandwagon not to get vaccines because the belief that sufficient immunity "could be built up nutritionally," or some other fringe theory. I wouldn't be suprised to see a few cases, although I'm not epidemiologist or anything.

Yes I think that maybe plays a part in it as well....the fear of the MMR vax and autism. No one really knows for sure on that. I've read a lot of conflicting things, I certainly don't know.

Measles and mumps are probably no big deal for healthy people, but it's those that have compromised immune systems, those that can't be vax'ed for medical reasons, etc. that I worry about.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · May 5, 2006

I think it's because people just don't keep up with their vaccines and therfore people are getting sick with these illnesses cause they don't have any immunity to them.

Pertussis vax I believe can have very low effeciency rates is the problem, most of those getting pertussis *have been* vax'ed for it.

Also remember that Pertussis immunity is rather unusual/not well understood, being not tied to specific antibodies in the same way as many other diseases.

Post mass vaccination, we see loss of immunity as soon as 3-5 yrs after the last vaccination, and no immunity in teens and young adults is considered common, the NORM, not the exception (that is why they are now recommending that adults get pertussis vax and we see larger outbreaks of teens as well contracting pertussis even though they too have been vax'ed as children).

I have a pdf file fromContemporary Pediatrics that talks about this but I can't get it to open!! I'll try it again later.

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · May 5, 2006

I don't know whats going on , but the headline in my local paper stated 1,552 confirmed cases of mumps this year in Iowa. My friend that's doing an E.R rotation, said a young guy came in yesterday and you wouldn't have believed the size of his neck. Our local town's are giving free mump shots to any 18-25 year old.

At least 5 kids in my daughters elementary school classes have contracted the disease, and I know for sure they had to have their shots before they could enter school.

It sounds like Iowa should prepare for the measles too :uhoh21: