Measles cases are a wake-up call

Measles cases are back in the headlines roughly 25 years after the World Health Organization declared the disease was eliminated in the United States. The nation’s successful vaccination effort was seen as a historic public health achievement.

Six measles cases have been reported in Iowa, with five cases in Eastern Iowa and one in central Iowa. It’s the most cases of measles in Iowa since two cases were reported in 2019.

Nationally, there were 85 cases of measles in 2000. But outbreaks topping 1,200 cases have occurred in 2019 and this year. The highly contagious disease starts with a runny nose, cough and fever before a rash of red dots appears. Life-threatening cases include pneumonia and brain inflammation.

Children under the age of 5 and older adults are vulnerable to the most severe symptoms.

That’s why U.S. health officials aggressively promoted vaccinations. When the vaccine was licensed in 1963, the nation saw nearly 500,000 cases of measles.

The Iowa outbreak, although not large, serves as a timely reminder of the importance of vaccinating children against infectious diseases. A combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, MMR, is part of the recommended childhood vaccination schedule, and Iowa school districts require it before or within 60 days of a child’s enrollment.

There are exceptions for children who can’t be immunized due to medical conditions or families with religious objections. It’s normal for parents to ask questions about vaccines, but answers should come from pediatricians and evidence-based sources, not social media influencers or political pundits.

The bad news is that not enough Iowa kids are getting vaccinated for the measles to achieve the Community Immunity Threshold, also known as herd immunity. According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, 84% of 2-year-olds received the recommended two doses of the MMR vaccine in 2024. But the Community Immunity Threshold is 92 to 94%.

Skepticism of the safety of vaccinations rose dramatically during the COVID pandemic. A politicized fight over the safety of COVID shots has spread to other vaccines.

And we now have a vaccination skeptic directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Robert Kennedy Jr. recently removed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many new members lack deep expertise on vaccines and have made false claims, such as that vaccines cause autism.

Amid all this tumult, we must remember the truth about vaccines. They are rigorously tested, highly effective and save lives. Providing them to our children will help them avoid catching severe and debilitating illnesses.

Before these vaccines were available, these diseases ran rampant. In the 10 years before the measles vaccine was licensed, about 500 measles deaths were reported annually.

We need to remember that history and the triumphs in vaccine development that have wiped out many previously common maladies. Vaccines should not be a political issue — they are a public health necessity. Do not listen to junk science, even if it comes from the top health official in the nation. Protecting children from diseases like measles begins with facts, not fear.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com