GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A measles outbreak has spread to 21 states, including Michigan. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 107 people contracted the disease between the beginning of January and July 14. The majority of those affected had not received a vaccine against the disease.
That is not surprising to Mary Wisinski, a public health nurse and immunization program supervisor for the Kent County Health Department.
"If you are not protected against measles and you are in a room with someone who has measles, there is a 95 percent chance you are going to get the disease," explained Wisinski. "That is how contagious measles is."
The outbreak coincides with the KCHD's current immunization campaign. The department is urging parents to make sure their children are up-to-date on their childhood vaccinations before the start of the school year.
"It is very important because we still have children dying from these diseases," said Wisinski. "I can't predict who is going to get the dire consequences of measles or pertussis (whopping cough).
"Meningitis is a disease that can kill people in 24 hours," she continued. "So it is not just our babies and our very young children that need to be protected, but our teenagers as well."
Michigan's public health code requires any child in daycare, pre-school, kindergarten, 7th grade -- or any child new to a school district -- to prove they're up to date on their immunizations before the first day of school.
Medical and non-medical waivers are available for parents who can't have or who don't want their children vaccinated. However, health officials warn of the risks of not vaccinated.
"As a public health nurse I am responsible for the health of the community. It does take a certain amount of herd immunity, as we call it, of a number of people being vaccinated to protect our whole community. So, that is our mission. But ultimately, we try to answer the parents' questions and it is their decision to vaccinate or not," said Wisinski who fears we have been a victim of our own success when it comes to vaccines. "Preventable diseases have been out of the spotlight because we have done such a good job."
However, many diseases that have been eliminated or rare are making a comeback. There have been large increases in pertussis (whooping cough), measles and chickenpox diseases throughout the United States.
While many people may only become moderately ill with these diseases, the most vulnerable in our community; infants, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions, could suffer serious consequences such as hospitalization and death. Even healthy people have developed these same consequences.
Last year, 118 people in 15 states reported having the measles, and officials fear this year's numbers will grow past that. In Michigan, all four measles cases reported this year are from exposure outside the U.S.
Measles is spread through sneezing and coughing, and can lead to hospitalization, pneumonia and even death.
Despite the potential dangers, the topic of childhood immunizations has been at the center of much controversy and debate, in recent years. That debate is led by parents wanting to link vaccines and increased risk of autism and cancer, in children -- as well as other conditions.
"We try to meet each parent where they are at. But, we do have science to prove those things are not true," said Wisinski. "Ultimately it is the parents' decision. We respect that."
She says waiver rates, statewide, are up this year. Kent County has about a 3 percent waiver rate, which is on par or lower than many other communities across Michigan.
"In January of 2015, when we required people to come to the local health department for waivers, I believe we got rid of those waivers of convenience," said Wisinski. "But, I think there are still some naysayers out there who have jumped on the bandwagon. And, if I put in a search engine - 'why aren't vaccines safe' - the websites that come up are not going to be credible."
The Kent County Health Department is currently putting up billboards up to encourage people to "prevent what is preventable." Wisinski said those who are determined to request a waiver should do so now, as the beginning of the school year is fast approaching.
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