
Pediatrician Dr. Francine Jacobs said vaccination is an important tool in preventing the spread of measles.
Jacobs said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) research shows that one dose of the measles vaccine is about 93% effective at preventing measles if someone is exposed to the virus, and two doses are about 97% effective.
Measles, a highly contagious virus, is making a comeback.
The CDC reported 102 cases of the measles in 14 states were diagnosed in January. The majority of these cases have been linked to a measles outbreak at an amusement park in California.
Although measles were eliminated in the United States in 2000, the CDC said that in 2014 the U.S. experienced the greatest number of measles cases since being declared eliminated, with 644 cases in 27 states. The majority of these cases were in people who were not vaccinated.
To prevent the spread of measles, the CDC recommends that every child receive a first dose of the measles vaccination after reaching the age of 12 months.
A second dose is recommended for 4- to 6- year-olds.
Vaccination also is recommended for adults who do not have evidence of immunity to the measles.