Recently, the Minnesota Department of Health has announced that three siblings from Anoka who developed symptoms of measles after a trip to Europe sought care at Hennepin Healthcare and may have exposed others to the disease. This is concerning for parents, as measles is highly contagious and can spread through coughing or being in the same room as an infected person.
School-age vaccination rates across the country are declining, which is also a cause for concern. According to the CDC, about 93% of kindergarteners in the U.S. were vaccinated against measles during the 2021-2022 school year, down from 95% in previous years. This decrease in vaccination rates is threatening herd immunity and increasing the risk of measles outbreaks in communities.
It is essential for parents to ensure that their children are up to date with their vaccines to protect themselves and others from preventable diseases like measles. As a journalist covering breaking news and making short-form documentary films since 2019, I encourage everyone to stay informed about health alerts and vaccination updates to protect their families and communities from the spread of contagious diseases like measles.