Three Things Thursday highlights three things I am paying attention to as an epidemiologist each week.
This week I am paying attention to the message shared by the CDC earlier this afternoon highlighting the urgent need to increase vaccine coverage for flu, COVID, and RSV. Additionally, I am celebrating that the Supreme Court has left the Illinois semiautomatic gun ban in place and tracking the increase in measles deaths worldwide.
I am also wrapping up the semester, finalizing a couple of projects, and getting ready for the holidays. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year. May you all be healthy — and here is your guide for staying healthy throughout the holiday season.
Hoping this post helps to educate and empower you
to be healthy and create healthy communities.
Need To Increase Seasonal Immunizations
This afternoon, the CDC used its Health Alert Network to alert healthcare providers about low vaccination rates against influenza, COVID-19, and RSV.
The number of cases of influenza, COVID-19, and RSV is increasing. Hospitalizations and deaths from these seasonal viruses are also on the rise (during the past week, four children died from influenza). This combined with holiday celebrations could lead to more severe disease and increased strain on the healthcare system.
Vaccines are safe and effective at preventing severe illness and death.
Healthcare providers are being urged to administer vaccines to all patients.
Additionally, individuals who become sick should be prescribed antiviral medications.
Everyone (who is eligible) should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Illinois Gun Ban
Today is the 11th anniversary of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook School in Newtown, CT.
“We honor the educators who shouldn’t have had to put their lives on the line for their students, and the kids whose futures were stolen.”
~Everytown for Gun Safety & Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Earlier today — in a small victory for gun safety — the U.S. Supreme Court left in place an Illinois ban on AR-15 semiautomatic weapons. This ban on assault weapons was passed after the July 4, 2022 shooting that left seven people dead and 48 wounded; the gunman, using an AR-15, was able to fire 83 rounds in less than a minute. The ban prohibits the possession, manufacture, or sale of semiautomatic rifles and high-capacity magazines.
According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, this is —
“… a victory for all communities who have been held hostage by the gun industry.”
Measles Deaths Worldwide Increase
Measles — one of the most contagious diseases known — deaths increased by 40% last year. Additionally, the number of cases grew by nearly 20%. Both increases are the result of declining vaccination rates worldwide. In 2022, there were measles outbreaks in 37 countries (compared to 22 in 2021). More than 9 million children were diagnosed with measles and 136,000 died from the disease.
While measles is highly contagious, it is a vaccine-preventable disease.
If at least 95% of the population is vaccinated, herd immunity can be achieved. Meaning that the entire population will be protected against the disease. When the percentage of people vaccinated drops below 95% measles can resurface and spread. While many of the measles cases diagnosed in 2022 occurred in poorer countries without sustainable and equitable vaccination campaigns, outbreaks did occur in countries with better healthcare systems, including the UK and the United States.
In the county where I live, the percentage of kindergarteners with both doses of the measles vaccine was 94.8% during the 2022-23 school year; and 92.6% in seventh graders. When I saw this data yesterday, the increase in measles cases and deaths went from a global problem (not in my backyard) to a local problem (very much in my backyard and the schools my children attend).
The percentage of children who are fully vaccinated against measles needs to increase NOW. Before the disease begins to spread in our communities.
We need to recognize that the report from CDC and WHO that documents global increases in measles cases and deaths is a LOCAL PROBLEM.
All children need two doses of the measles vaccine.
And if we do not work now to get children vaccinated, it could be too late. Or those numbers shared above will continue to increase and the geographic reach of outbreaks will get larger. The next outbreak could be in my community. Or yours.
We all need to double-check that we and our children/grandchildren have had both doses of the measles vaccine.
The vaccine is safe and HIGHLY EFFECTIVE.
Do you have questions about any of the vaccines I am advocating for? Please ask —
And be sure to share this post with your friends and family, especially those who need to double-check their measles vaccine status.