Thankfully, both of my daughters had their first measles shot, which grants immunity in\u00a0up to 95% of individuals<\/a>.\u00a0However, I now have a vulnerable infant to consider, and even a small chance of exposing him to this virus with no protection is too big of a risk.<\/p>\n So, under the advice of our pediatrician, I decided to give both of my daughters their second measles-mumps-rubella vaccine early. I didn\u2019t feel entirely comfortable with this decision \u2014 especially with my 16-month-old just recovering from an infection and borderline immunocompromised. But it was the best decision available to me.<\/p>\n And because of parents who opt out of vaccinating their kids, I was put in the position to make it.<\/p>\n The recent measles scare in Virginia came from a student at a local elementary school. Though the individual\u2019s vaccination status was not directly stated in a letter<\/a>\u00a0from the Virginia Beach Department of Health or in an interview<\/a> with officials, several local outlets have taken this opportunity to advocate for the safety and continued necessity of childhood vaccinations. Of the 1,491 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. this year, 92% occurred in individuals<\/a> who were unvaccinated (or who had an unknown vaccination status).<\/p>\n In fact, 2025<\/a> boasts more measles cases since the disease was considered eliminated in 2000 \u2014 and more than any other year in the past three decades.<\/p>\n Low vaccination rates<\/a> caused by vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccine movements are largely to blame.<\/p>\n In other words, parents who choose not to vaccinate their children play a major role in these outbreaks \u2015 which will continue to rise if nothing changes.<\/p>\n Photo Courtesy Of Lauren Gumpert<\/p>\n The author’s two daughters visiting their newest sibling at the hospital.<\/p>\n As parents, we make hundreds of decisions on a daily basis \u2014 some inconsequential, others less so. We\u2019re constantly weighing pros and cons, risks and benefits. In a world that feels more disconnected than ever \u2014 when we can bury our heads into our phones and surround ourselves with an echo chamber of conspiratorial ideas \u2014 it\u2019s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.<\/p>\n So let\u2019s zoom out for a minute. In 1900, infectious diseases (such as pneumonia, influenza and measles) killed about 18% of children<\/a>. Before vaccines and other public health measures, 1 in 5 children did not live to see their first birthday.<\/p>\n Compare that reality to today, when\u00a0less than 1%<\/a> of children die before their fifth birthday.<\/p>\n Back then, childhood was inherently dangerous. Even if they lived, those who became infected with a virus such as measles often suffered long-term side effects<\/a> such as brain damage and a permanently weakened immune system.<\/p>\n The success of public health measures such as vaccines has given people a false sense of security<\/a>, leading many to conclude that once-tragic diseases are no longer a threat. But it\u2019s only thanks to science that illness and death among children is no longer commonplace.<\/p>\n Nowadays, it\u2019s easy to take our health for granted \u2014 especially with anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/a> steering the narrative at the helm of the Department of Health and Human Services. We have the luxury of arguing over genetically modified organisms and artificial food colors and doubting the effectiveness of the very things that have kept us safe for the past half-century.<\/p>\n I won\u2019t pretend to understand the various circumstances that might lead a parent not to vaccinate their child.<\/p>\n But I do know that as parents (and human beings), we have a responsibility to protect all children. I\u2019m reminded of a quote by author and activist Glennon Doyle<\/a> who said, \u201cThere\u2019s no such thing as other people\u2019s children.\u201d We have an obligation to protect those who cannot opt to protect themselves. This is why I keep my kids home when they\u2019re sick, why I advocate for stricter gun laws and \u2014 yes \u2014 why I vaccinate my kids.<\/p>\n Because measles is an airborne disease, one infected person can easily pass it on to 18 other people<\/a>. To achieve herd immunity, 95% of the population must be fully vaccinated. Unfortunately, vaccination rates among children have continued to decline since the COVID-19 pandemic, with only 92.5% of kindergartners<\/a> in the U.S. reportedly vaccinated against measles last year.<\/p>\n Just this week, a school-aged child in California died<\/a> due to a delayed measles-related complication known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). The child contracted the disease in infancy before they were eligible for vaccination. If infected, my newborn son could suffer the same fate.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t want my kids \u2014 or anyone else\u2019s \u2014 to become another preventable casualty.<\/p>\n So, both of my daughters received their second MMR vaccine ahead of schedule. However, we still aren\u2019t out of the woods, because measles symptoms can appear as late as 21 days after exposure<\/a>. Additionally, about 5% of children<\/a> who receive their second vaccine develop a measles-like rash and fever, so it can be difficult to determine whether they have the disease.<\/p>\n Now I\u2019m left to wonder and stress about every little bump that surfaces on my daughters\u2019 skin. And if one of them does develop symptoms, I\u2019ll have to contact the Virginia Department of Health<\/a> to get them tested, because I can\u2019t bring them to the pediatrician and risk exposing other vulnerable children.<\/p>\n I understand why many parents have grown to distrust medical institutions. I\u2019ve also had my fair share of negative experiences that sometimes make me doubt doctors\u2019 recommendations and interventions.<\/p>\n But overall, I believe that people in helping professions (like medicine) have good intentions. The millions of doctors and organizations supporting and promoting vaccine use would not intentionally harm children. RFK, on the other hand, seems to change his opinion often to suit his political agenda<\/a>.<\/p>\n Despite the fact that a link between vaccines and autism has been disproven over and over<\/a>, RFK Jr. continues to spread lies and misinformation. He promised Americans that he would find a cause for the \u201cautism epidemic\u201d<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 a pursuit that won him support among many parents. However, with no formal medical or public health training, the secretary of health continues to undermine the scientific process by hiring incompetent individuals and misappropriating resources to maintain his base of support. For example, he recently employed a known pseudoscientist<\/a> to uncover a link between vaccines and autism (which, as previously stated, studies have found\u00a0does not exist<\/a>).<\/p>\n In light of recent threats<\/a> to vaccine access, 34 scientific and medical organizations including the American Association of Immunologists and the American College of Physicians have come together to produce a statement<\/a> reaffirming the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.<\/p>\n With so many conspiracy theories circulating on the internet, it can be difficult to know who to trust. As a result, many parents fail to recognize the far-reaching implications of their choices. A once-standard public health measure has become politicized and exploited \u2014 and our children will suffer because of it.<\/p>\n Mother Teresa said: \u201cIf we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n The consequences of a decision like not vaccinating your child are not hypothetical. By now, hundreds of families in Virginia Beach like mine have been affected by one family\u2019s choices. None of us live on an island, and our actions continue to ripple outward and affect others in unexpected ways.<\/p>\n In this life, we have no choice but to rely on each other. As parents, we have the power to end preventable deaths by vaccinating our children. I hope the vaccine skeptics among us will find the strength to do what\u2019s necessary to keep all of our children safe.<\/p>\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5098035c68d5c288656525844cc32fcb.jpeg\"\/)
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