The importance of vaccinations throughout the general American population was further emphasized by the measles outbreak in 2011. The measles MMR vaccine is recommended for all children 12-15 months, with a second dose at age 4-6 years. Since 1996, > 90% of children from 19-35 months were covered through 1 dose of the MMR vaccination. Through the high rates of MMR vaccination coverage there was larger population immunity allowing the United States to achieve measles elimination in 2000. However during 2011, 222 measles cases were reported across 31 states. US residence accounted for 196 case and 141 of whom were unvaccinated and eligible for the MMR vaccination.
An overall majority of the cases, 200, were associated with importations from other countries, some of which were linked to U.S residence that recently traveled abroad. (McLean, H., & Centers for Disease Control, 2012) In Hennepin County Minnesota, the source of the first identified case was a, “30-month-old- born unvaccinated child of Somali descent who was exposed to measles while in …show more content…
Even though there are laws throughout the country requiring children to receive the appropriate vaccinations before attending school and for adults to hold certain jobs, the US government has no authority when it comes to legally mandating vaccines for all citizens. However, if there were a serious outbreak of an infectious disease, in order to prevent its transmission either into the States or from one state to another, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, under the Public Health Service Act, has the power use quarantine and isolation measures are primarily used in this scenario. (Mandatory Vaccinations: Precedent and Current
An overall majority of the cases, 200, were associated with importations from other countries, some of which were linked to U.S residence that recently traveled abroad. (McLean, H., & Centers for Disease Control, 2012) In Hennepin County Minnesota, the source of the first identified case was a, “30-month-old- born unvaccinated child of Somali descent who was exposed to measles while in …show more content…
Even though there are laws throughout the country requiring children to receive the appropriate vaccinations before attending school and for adults to hold certain jobs, the US government has no authority when it comes to legally mandating vaccines for all citizens. However, if there were a serious outbreak of an infectious disease, in order to prevent its transmission either into the States or from one state to another, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, under the Public Health Service Act, has the power use quarantine and isolation measures are primarily used in this scenario. (Mandatory Vaccinations: Precedent and Current