The importance of measles vaccination
Vaccines are very important to maintain good health. This topic will be on Measles and why measles vaccination is very important.
WHAT IS MEASLES?
Measles is a virus which infects children who are not immunized. Measles is spread by inhaling (breathing in) or ingesting (eating) droplets from an infected person when they cough or sneeze into the air.
HOW DOES MEASLES AFFECT A CHILD?
Measles causes a child or adult to feel ill, unwell, tired, poor appetite, with very high fever, red eyes, runny nose and cough.
A rash usually comes out on the 3rd or 4th day and can be in the mouth and all over the body.
Measles usually lasts 7-10 days.
Measles can also cause infections in the lung tissue called pneumonia or inflammation in the brain tissue of a child called Encephalitis (SSPE) causing delay in a child’s development or epilepsy.
HOW CAN MEASLES BE PREVENTED?
Measles can be prevented by vaccination. There are two types of Measles Vaccines- One is the single measles vaccine given at 9 months in Nigeria and the second is the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines (MMR) given at the age of 1 year all over the world.
Keeping children with measles isolated, avoiding a patient who has the virus and frequent handwashing, helps to prevent the virus from spreading.
WHAT IS A VACCINE?
Vaccines are liquids given by injection or orally which contain products that can stimulate production of antibodies against the virus and helps prevent that infection.
WHERE CAN THE MEASLES VACCINE BE FOUND?
Children can get vaccines from their Paediatricians offices or their local government offices health department.
AT WHAT AGE IS THE MEASLES VACCINE GIVEN IN NIGERIA?
Measles Vaccine is given at 9 months and MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) Vaccine is given at 12 months of age.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE MEASLES VACCINE? It is very effective by 95 %
CAN THE VACCINE CAUSE MEASLES? No, The Vaccine cannot cause measles.
Article written by Dr. Ekuase Sanusi, Consultant Paediatrician, Pediatric Partners, Victoria Island.
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