Measles up in many states for the first time in decades

The Center for Disease Control has confirmed nearly 900 cases of measles in about half of U.S. states – the most since 1994.

One possible reason is more kids are getting exemptions from vaccinations.

All 50 states allow students to receive exemptions from vaccinations for medical reasons. But formal vaccine exemptions for religious or philosophical reasons have recently come under fire as the CDC has confirmed 880 measles cases in 24 states since January, the greatest number since 1994.

Laurie Faskin Tripp, RN, Nursing Supervisor at the Jasper County Health Department, says it’s not because parents can’t pay.

“Qualified health center, rural health centers, health departments and some physicians offices all have the ability to get vaccines for children – immunizations- for no cost to the person,” she states.

Tripp says both medical and religious exemptions are granted in Missouri and schools accept children without vaccinations.

Tripp points out that many serious diseases of the past including diptheria, polio, measles, mumps, chickenpox and others have been rarely seen in recent decades, although a trend toward not vaccinating could result in a lack of immunity.