Alyssa Niedrauer is facing vaccine challenges for her son amid rising measles cases, as experts stress vaccination importance for preventing outbreaks.
DALLAS — When Alyssa Niedrauer noticed her 19-month-old son had measles-like symptoms after getting the vaccine, she became worried.
“I felt very helpless and scared because there’s nothing you can do at that point,” Neidrauer said.
Her son is sensitive to many vaccines. While she, her husband and doctors work to find out what causes the reactions, they’ve decided to keep him out of certain public spaces like daycare.
“I know he had a challenging reaction with different ones and although I know it’s very important, that is scary to me,” Neidrauer said.
Dr. Donna Persaud, Parkland Family Pediatrician medical director, said that is understandable as measles cases rise particularly in vulnerable populations; seniors and children.
“Kindergarten, vaccine rates are low. In some places, they’re down to 88%,” Persaud said.
She said studies show there is higher risk for outbreaks when vaccinations get below 95%.
When should your child get vaccinated?
“The response to the vaccine is strongest starting at 12 months, and you want to keep them protected,” Persaud said.
She said doctors can recommend the vaccine to infants 6-11 months old in special circumstances such as traveling internationally or to places with outbreaks.
“When they turn 1 year of age, they will still need to get their series of vaccines,” Persaud said.
She told WFAA one vaccine is 95% effective, but two, one month apart, is 97% effective.
Seniors are another vulnerable population.
“People born before 1957 are regarded as generally immune because it was so common,” Persaud said.
She said in the vaccine given in the ’60s and ’70s is not as effective as today’s vaccines, so it is OK to get another now, especially if you’re immunocompromised. Measles is airborne and can be contagious four days before and after symptoms occur.
“If you think you have symptoms and you worry, make a phone call first. The person that’s sick should not go into the waiting room, if they’re stable enough to wait in the car while you’re trying to figure out and alert the staff,” Persaud said.
It is a step to protect others like Niedrauer’s son, who is vaccinated but has reactions to it.
“I do care about everybody else that’s around him, and I don’t want anyone else to get sick and I don’t want him to get sick,” Niedrauer said.
