Keeping your kids safe from measles

AccuWeather

AccuWeather's Ali Reid speaks with Dr. Frank Esper from Cleveland Clinic Children's who shares some of the best ways to prevent measles from affecting your family.

Transcript

00:00Measles cases are on the rise across the U.S. and doctors say the best way to

00:05prevent the disease is through vaccination. It's one of the most

00:08contagious viruses in the world, spreading through coughs and sneezes and

00:13can linger in the air for up to two hours. When we look at all the kids who

00:17are getting measles, both now and in all the previous years, the vast majority of

00:23them are not vaccinated or only have one vaccine. It is very rare for you to

00:29actually see a child who received both doses of the vaccine to actually get

00:35measles. The measles vaccine has been around since the 1960s and is part of

00:40the MMR shot, which also protects against mumps and rubella. It's

00:45recommended that Children receive two doses, one at 12 to 15 months old and

00:50another between ages four and six to not only protect your child, but those

00:55around them too. There are some people who are who can't receive the vaccine

01:00because they're immune compromised or they're allergic to a component of the

01:05vaccine. And for those people, they really depend on all of us to be

01:10vaccinated to protect them. Experts say parents should check their child's

01:14vaccination records and talk to their pediatrician if they have any concerns

01:18with measles cases on the rise. Doctors stress that prevention is key for

01:24you other. I'm Allie Reed.

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