Should parents be required to vaccinate?

Feb 03 2015

Colorado's members of congress have varying philosophies on whether parents should be legally required to vaccinate their children, with views that don't break neatly down party lines.

Source: 9News Denver

Top Colorado Doctor Says Adults Worried About Measles Should Just Get A Vaccination

Feb 02 2015

The measles outbreak is getting worse, and as the number of cases grows, so does the risk of the disease spreading even further. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 102 cases and counting have hit people in the U.S. in just the last month. The center reports the people infected are in 14 states, including the one case in Colorado. Doctors are urging children be immunized, and now many adults who aren’t sure if they were ever vaccinated are wondering what to do.

Source: CBS Denver

Measles outbreak concerning, but most people not at risk

Feb 02 2015

Source: Fox 31 KDVR

The saddest story Roald Dahl ever wrote — about his daughter’s death from measles — is worth reading today

Feb 02 2015

Some people seem to think the measles is a nuisance disease — irritating and briefly unpleasant, but otherwise harmless. For many, it’s not so bad. For others, the measles is serious and potentially fatal. Children under 5 are particularly vulnerable to complications, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One of the worst complications is measles encephalitis.

Source: The Washington Post

Measles Outbreak With A Baby At Home

Feb 02 2015

Many parents around the U.S. are asking what to do about a possible measles exposure with a baby at home who is too young to be immunized. Should they stay home? Can they travel? Should they cancel that trip to Utah or to Vermont or even to Disney next month? Can they head out to the store without worry? Are they “safe?”

Source: Seattle Mama Doc Blog

Measles Is A Killer: It Took 145,000 Lives Worldwide Last Year

Jan 30 2015

The number of measles cases from the outbreak linked to Disneyland has now risen to at least 98. But measles remains extremely rare in the United States. The rest of the world hasn't been so fortunate. Last year roughly 250,000 people came down with measles; more than half of them died.

Source: NPR

Colorado: Easy State To Opt Out Of Vaccinations

Jan 29 2015

As the Measles outbreak continues to grow in the U.S. with cases in 14 states, including Colorado, there is a lot of attention focused on vaccinations. Some believe it’s too easy to opt out of immunizations in the state.

Source: CBS4 Denver

Colorado measles' quarantines expire

Jan 29 2015

Several people under self-quarantine for measles in Colorado have been released. All of those under self-quarantine had possible contact with a measles patient at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs on Jan. 3.

Source: The Denver Channel

Caldwell: Is Colorado an infectious-disease tinder box?

Jan 28 2015

The California measles outbreak blamed for dozens of cases of the disease might seem like a distant threat. Only one associated case was reported in Colorado, and that seems to have resolved without infecting others. So, we're in the clear, right? Not so fast.

Source: The Denver Post

2015 Immunization Schedules Reflect Minor Changes

Jan 27 2015

The immunization schedules for 2015 have been approved by the Academy, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. These schedules are revised at the beginning of each year to reflect current recommendations for the use of vaccines licensed by the Food and Drug Administration.

Source: AAP News