By Paige Brazil
In recent years, vaccinations have evolved into a loaded subject packing tons of heat. There are people on both ends of the spectrum; some believe wholeheartedly that vaccines are great and preventative, while others do not support their effects for a variety of reasons. The measles, mumps, and rubella shot — more commonly referred to as the MMR vaccine — is declining throughout the U.S. despite several benefits. The disease has evolved over time.
Seth J. Sullivan, M.D., M.P.H. at Baylor Scott & White Health, explains that, by definition, a vaccine is a form of biological preparation created to build acquired immunity to a certain disease. Vaccines are typically comprised of an agent that closely resembles a microorganism that can cause disease. A vaccine is made from weakened or killed parts of the microorganism, whether it be part of the microbe, toxins, or surface proteins.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, in 1954, John F. Enders and Thomas C. Peebles collected blood samples from several ill students during a measles outbreak in Boston, Massachusetts. The two succeeded in isolating measles in David Edmonston’s blood. From there, the two transformed their Edmonston-B strain of measles virus into a vaccine and licensed it in the United States. In 1968, an improved measles vaccine, developed by Maurice Hilleman, began to be distributed. This vaccine, called the Edmonston-Enders strain, has been the only measles vaccine used in the U.S. since 1968, according to the CDC website.
“Before and during the 1950s, measles was everywhere; it was so contagious,” says Sullivan. “Rash, fever, and neurologic complications could still happen even years after a person beat the disease. However, vaccination campaigns proved very effective, and we began to see fewer outbreaks.” An outbreak means a disease is passed from person to person through a chain of transmission. An infected person must come into contact with an unvaccinated person and spread the disease, Sullivan explains. The measles case that came through College Station earlier this year, linked to Chuy’s, was not an outbreak because the disease was not transmitted, says Sullivan.
Sullivan explains how in the early 2000s, the continental U.S. was declared measles-free. The only cases seen in the U.S. during this time were those imported from travelers coming from other regions of the world. However, over the years, the enthusiasm for the MMR vaccine has declined, and because of that, the U.S. no longer has a high rate of MMR vaccinations compared to the past. Because of the dropped rates, when travelers come to our country, the disease is easily spread through a chain of transmission.
Some believe vaccines are unhealthy and cause certain developmental disorders, such as autism. However, vaccines have to be licensed and tested for safety and efficacy before they are distributed, says Sullivan. A licensed physician cannot administer a vaccine until it has been proven safe and effective. The MMR vaccine has been through and passed these tests, which debunks the theory that the MMR vaccine is a risk factor and contributor to autism.
“When people were trying to figure out autism and what causes it, MMR was an impediment,” says Sullivan. “Another challenge is some religious or spiritual beliefs that vaccinations go against. We’ve even seen measles cases in Amish communities that do not embrace technology.”
Sullivan explains how the herd immunity phenomenon is an imperative factor in disease resistance and eradication. The idea of herd immunity is that if enough of the population is vaccinated, then a disease cannot take root and establish a transmissible circle. Due to lower vaccination levels, we have started to lose our herd immunity.
“This year has seen the most measles cases on record with more than 800 cases in the U.S. alone,” Sullivan says. “This information needs to be a call to all of us and the importance of vaccination. They are so effective that we forgot about measles and now we are remembering.”
