In an effort to prevent the spread of measles locally, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday, June 10 to launch a program that includes stepping up vaccinations and adding more education programs since nearly 100% of the cases arise from people who are not vaccinated.
The United States is experiencing the worst measles outbreak in recent years, the supervisors reported. As of May 16, 1,024 measles cases have been confirmed in 31 jurisdictions, including California. There have been 11 confirmed cases in the state and four of those were in Los Angeles County as of May 12, the county reported.
One recent case involved a county resident who recently traveled internationally. The county Department of Public Health is interviewing 700 people who may have been in contact and therefore, been exposed. They are determining if they have been vaccinated or are immune because they had the measles. If neither, or they don’t know, they’ll need a blood test and may need to quarantine for 21 days.
The supervisors voted 5-0 to construct a plan for its health department to give out vaccinations to adults and children and to track vaccination coverage. Tracking vaccinations and pinpointing areas with low vaccine rates is something not done for measles vaccines.
“I believe it is critical the county continue to identify opportunities to keep county residents safe from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs),” said Supervisor Hilda Solis, who authored the motion.
Making things more difficult is misinformation on the internet about the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is both a safe and highly effective method for preventing people from getting measles and spreading the disease, the county reported.
Meanwhile, 63% of adults and 61% of parents have been exposed to the false claim that the MMR vaccine causes autism, which the county DPH and an overwhelming number of doctors and medical institutions say is completely without basis.
“The spread of misinformation related to the MMR vaccine, including from the Trump administration, is extremely dangerous,” concluded the motion by Solis.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services appointed by President Trump, has spoken out for years against vaccines. On Monday, Kennedy fired all 17 sitting members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee, vowing to replace them with new members. The committee makes recommendations on the safety and need for vaccines.
Barbara Ferrer, director of the county’s Department of Public Health, said Kennedy’s views may have hampered vaccine rates in LA County. “We have had a lot of folks concerned about vaccine safety,” she said. “We are not being helped by our new secretary of Health and Human Services, who has a long track record for not favoring vaccines.”
Ferrer added: “The measles vaccine has been with us for decades and it is highly effective with very few safety concerns.”
Coverage rates average 95% in L.A. County and are required for school enrollment. At some schools, the rates drop to 80%, Ferrer said. The MMR vaccine is 97% effective.
“Measles is a serious respiratory disease that spreads easily through the air and on surfaces, particularly among people who are not already protected from it,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, the county’s health officer.
Measles symptoms are: high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash that starts after other signs of illness. The “measles rash” typically starts at the face and then spreads down to the rest of the body. Measles is an extremely contagious virus that can lead to severe health implications, including death, the county reported.
An outbreak in West Texas has resulted in 744 cases of measles since January, confirmed the Texas Department of State Health Services. Of those, 96 individuals were hospitalized. Two school-age children died. Both were not vaccinated.
Ferrer said in one Texas case the disease spread to hundreds of people.
She said children are most vulnerable. Some children in L.A. County are from countries where the vaccine is not available. She said children who get measles under 12 months of age can get very sick. “We don’t want what happened in Texas to happen here,” Ferrer said.
Also, the county is preparing for potential funding reductions from the federal government that could cut prevention efforts, as the county enters into a new five-year agreement with the CDC. “The potential loss of this funding will result in the inability for the county to respond to future outbreaks of measles and other VPDs (vaccine-preventable diseases), reduced access to vaccines particularly among the most underserved and vulnerable community members,” said the motion.
Dr. Charles Goodman vaccinates 1-year-old Cameron Fierro with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine in Northridge in 2015. On Tuesday, July 2, San Bernardino County officials announced the first measles case of the year. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)The bulk of the program will be focused on administering the MMR vaccine. In addition to the vaccine, the county wants to develop a system for administering a shot for those who have been exposed to the highly transmittable disease who are uninsured or don’t have regular medical care so they don’t become infected. The intramuscular immune globulin (IMIG) must be given within a six-day window following exposure to a measles case.
While schools are out for summer recess, the county health departments are planning on promoting back-to-school vaccination programs amid schools and daycare centers. Part of the program may include education and using trusted people in these communities to underscore the importance of the MMR vaccine.
“Getting the MMR vaccine is the most effective way of preventing this disease. It is sad the current administration and recent dismissal of public health experts represents a bedrock of health care that is under assault,” said Dr. Alex Lee, a pediatrician with LA Care.
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