With measles cases on the rise, it is important to ensure that you and your family are vaccinated, especially before pregnancy.
In February, a six-year-old girl from West Texas died from measles. She was unvaccinated. It was the first US death from the disease since 2015. Since then, an outbreak has continued in Texas infecting nearly 300 people, most of whom are unvaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown. Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia and brain inflammation.
It’s important to know your immunity status and get vaccinated, especially if you’re planning on getting pregnant, said Dr. Alisa Kachikis, an OB-GYN and maternal fetal medicine doctor at UW Medicine.
“Pregnant people are at high risk for severe illness with measles infection that includes developing pneumonia or being hospitalized with a measles illness, but the fetus is also at risk,” Kachikis said.
Kachikis recommends everyone get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. According to the CDC, two doses of the MMR vaccine provides up to 97 percent protection against the disease.
“If you feel like you have potentially been exposed, you should immediately contact your healthcare provider. If you are thinking about getting pregnant anytime soon, it's really important to check your immune status,” she said.
Doctors do not recommend that pregnant people take the MMR vaccine, but that they get vaccinated either before they are pregnant or after the delivery.
Measles can spread days before symptoms appear, so Kachikis says it’s crucial to be aware of early signs like fever, cough, and runny nose, followed by a rash.
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