Why Are We Seeing Measles Outbreaks? - February 2024 News Brief

Dr. Paul Offit talks about a measles outbreak in Philadelphia and the surrounding region. He explains why measles is making a comeback after successful measures, such as school vaccine mandates, contributed to its elimination from the United States by the year 2000.
Dr. Offit explains that measles is one of the most contagious diseases - more contagious than COVID-19 and influenza. Measles can lead to hospitalizations and deaths. Children with measles die from severe dehydration, pneumonia or, less commonly, encephalitis when the virus infects the brain.
The MMR vaccine is safe and effective, and Dr. Offit urges parent to protect their children from this highly contagious and potentially deadly virus.
To learn more about vaccines, please visit vaccine.chop.edu.
0:00 Introduction
0:53 Measles vaccine and school mandates
2:11 Measles outbreaks in 1970s and 1990s
2:52 One vs. two doses of measles vaccines and measles elimination from U.S.
04:06 Why has measles come back?