There recently have been multiple stories about the rising rates of many vaccine preventable diseases. As of October of 2011, European health officials have reported more than 26,000 cases of measles this year, with 9 deaths. This is triple the cases from the same period in 2007. The U.S. has had 205 cases so far (we normally have about 50 per year).
Last year, California had the most cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, since 1958. Nine infants died during this recent outbreak. China is seeing an outbreak of polio, which most likely started in Pakistan, and is starting to affect the rest of the continent.
What do all of these diseases have in common? They all started in areas where vaccinations are either not mandated, or in areas where the exemption rate are the highest.
What will keep these diseases from affecting our children? Vaccinating everyone, both adults and children, against the diseases that we can prevent. We wiped out smallpox through vaccination. We should be able to wipe out the rest of these diseases.
Arnold I. Pallay, M.D. FAAFP
Frank Iannetta, MD, FAAFP
Sandra Hoenig, M.D
