The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Medical Association (AMA) have issued urgent pleas for unvaccinated Americans to get vaccinated against measles. This comes as measles cases in the US have already surpassed the total cases for all of 2023 in just the first 12 weeks of 2024.
Vaccination rates among US kindergarteners have slipped to 93 percent, falling below the 95 percent target needed to prevent the spread of the disease. The CDC warns that unvaccinated Americans are largely responsible for importing and spreading the virus, emphasizing the importance of getting vaccinated to protect both themselves and others.
The CDC is also urging Americans traveling internationally to ensure they are up to date on measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus. The AMA warns that the reduction in measles vaccinations threatens the progress made in eliminating the disease in recent years.
Measles is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. Unvaccinated individuals not only put themselves at risk but also expose others, including children too young to be vaccinated and immunocompromised people, to the danger of contracting the disease.
It is crucial for individuals to prioritize getting vaccinated against measles to protect themselves and their communities. The CDC and AMA emphasize the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of this potentially deadly disease and urge all Americans to take action to ensure public health and safety.
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