
New measles vaccine guidance permits MMR for some infants
Apr. 15—LIMA — Infants who are exposed to measles before they are old enough for vaccination may get vaccinated early, according to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC now recommends children as young as six months old who have been exposed to measles through travel to a community with an active measles outbreak may be vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella.
Allen County Public Health confirmed the county's first measles case in an unvaccinated resident under the age of 18 on March 28 — the first case reported in Allen County in at least 25 years.
Health Commissioner Brandon Fischer said Allen County is not considered to be part of an active outbreak, as the health department has not confirmed any additional cases as of Tuesday afternoon.
"That speaks to how well vaccination ... provided protection" for people exposed to measles, Fischer said.
The updated guidance only applies to children who are too young for their first dose of the MMR vaccine who have traveled to a community with an active measles outbreak.
Infants are most at risk for severe illness from measles, but their immune systems are not fully responsive to the MMR vaccine, which is why the CDC recommends children obtain their first dose of the MMR vaccine between the ages of 12 and 15 months, Fischer said.
Children should get their second dose of the MMR vaccine before they enter kindergarten, typically between the ages of 4 to 6 years old, to further boost their immune system.
One dose of the MMR vaccine provides 93% protection, while two doses of the vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles.
Fischer said children who obtain their MMR vaccine before their first birthday should still follow the normal vaccine schedule between 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years old for full protection.
The highly contagious virus was once believed to be eliminated from the U.S., but declining immunization rates have led to a resurgence of measles.
Health officials have confirmed more than 700 measles cases in the U.S. this year, with the largest outbreaks concentrated in West Texas and New Mexico.
Smaller outbreaks are confirmed in Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, with the nearest outbreaks located in Allen County, Indiana, and Knox County, Ohio. Isolated cases are being investigated in a dozen other states.
Nearly 60 people have been hospitalized and two children have died.
The virus is particularly dangerous to unvaccinated children: Nine out of 10 unvaccinated children who are exposed to the virus will become infected, while one in five children who contract measles will be hospitalized with complications like pneumonia, dehydration or brain swelling.
The vaccine can be administered within 72 hours of exposure to prevent illness or complications, and is available for adults born after 1957 who are unvaccinated or do not know their vaccination status.
Measles symptoms typically develop within 21 days of exposure and include high fever, cough, nasal congestion, watery eyes and a rash beginning three to five days after other symptoms.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is available at retail pharmacies, doctor's offices or at Allen County Public Health by appointment prior to or within 72 hours of exposure. Call 419-228-4457 to schedule.
Featured Local Savings
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time Magazine
38 minutes ago
- Time Magazine
Trump's First Surgeon General: RFK Jr. Purging the CDC Advisory Committee Will Put Lives at Risk
When Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. began his tenure as Health and Human Services Secretary, he pledged, 'We won't take away anyone's vaccines.' However, recent policy changes under his leadership—coupled with the unprecedented dismissal of all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on June 9—have proven that statement false, raising grave concerns for our nation's COVID-19 response and broader vaccine policies. These shifts not only jeopardize public health but also threaten to erode trust in our health institutions at a critical time. In May 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) introduced a new COVID-19 vaccine framework, limiting access to updated vaccines for Americans aged 65 and older or those with specific risk factors. Furthermore, Secretary Kennedy announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for 'healthy' children or pregnant women—bypassing the standard ACIP review process. Compounding these changes, the abrupt removal of ACIP's entire panel of independent experts, who have guided evidence-based vaccine policy for decades, risks destabilizing a cornerstone of public health. These actions collectively restrict access to a vital tool for saving lives and undermine confidence in our health systems. During my tenure as Surgeon General under the first Trump administration, we faced significant public health challenges, from addressing the opioid epidemic by increasing access to Naloxone to launching Operation Warp Speed for the COVID-19 vaccine development effort. The vaccines developed under Trump's first term have proven to be one of our most effective defenses against COVID-19; yet, the current administration's new policies limit their availability, potentially leaving millions vulnerable. The dismissal of ACIP's experts—without a clear plan for replacing them with qualified scientists—further jeopardizes trust in the institutions tasked with protecting Americans. The major flaw in the new vaccine framework is its narrow assessment of risk. Although the immediate dangers of COVID-19 have lessened, it remains a leading cause of death and hospitalization, claiming nearly 50,000 lives in the U.S. in 2024—more than breast cancer or car accidents. The fact is, 75% of Americans have risk factors, such as obesity or diabetes, that increase their vulnerability to severe COVID outcomes. However, the burden is now placed on individuals to self-identify as high risk, creating confusion and inconsistency in access. Unlike other countries with centralized systems for identifying at-risk individuals, the U.S. expects patients—many of whom lack easy access to healthcare—to navigate eligibility alone. Risk assessment should also consider individual circumstances beyond underlying health conditions. A 58-year-old bus driver or healthcare worker faces significantly greater exposure than someone working remotely. By limiting vaccines to specific groups based solely on preexisting health status, the policy overlooks these critical contextual differences. Secretary Kennedy's team argues that there is insufficient evidence to support updated COVID-19 vaccines for healthy Americans under 65, but this claim is flatly unfounded. Years of real-world data demonstrate that vaccines save lives and reduce hospitalizations across all age groups. During the 2023 to 2024 fall and winter season, 95% of those hospitalized for COVID had not received an updated vaccine. While the administration cites other countries' more restrictive vaccine policies, such comparisons ignore the unique health landscape in the U.S., which includes higher obesity rates, worse maternal health outcomes, and uneven healthcare access. The policy also neglects the issue of Long COVID, which affects millions with debilitating symptoms lasting months or years. Though older adults are at higher risk for severe acute infections, Long COVID disproportionately impacts adults aged 35 to 49—and children are also affected. Vaccination reduces the risk of developing Long COVID, an essential reason many healthy individuals choose to stay up-to-date with their vaccines. Particularly concerning is the decision to end COVID vaccine recommendations for 'healthy' pregnant women, which contradicts the FDA's own guidance. Pregnant women face heightened risks of severe COVID outcomes, including death, pre-eclampsia, and miscarriage. Vaccination during pregnancy is crucial—not just for maternal health but also for protecting infants under six months, who cannot be vaccinated and rely on maternal antibodies for protection. Decades of research confirm that vaccines, including COVID vaccines, safely transfer antibodies to newborns, lowering their risk of severe illness. The dismissal of ACIP's members amplifies these concerns. ACIP has been a trusted, science-driven body that ensures vaccines are safe and effective, saving countless lives through its transparent recommendations. Its members, rigorously vetted for expertise and conflicts of interest, provide independent guidance critical to public health. Removing them without clear evidence of misconduct risks replacing qualified scientists with less experienced voices. This move fuels vaccine hesitancy and skepticism about public health decisions, particularly when paired with the bypassing of ACIP's review process for the new COVID vaccine policies. These changes create uncertainty about who can access vaccines. Without clear CDC recommendations, insurance companies may impose their own coverage criteria, potentially increasing costs for a vaccine that was previously free for most Americans. Healthcare providers, lacking federal guidance and ACIP's expertise, may struggle to advise patients, leading to a confusing and inequitable system that limits choice—hardly the 'medical freedom' Secretary Kennedy claims to champion. Ultimately, these actions threaten to erode trust in public health. FDA officials argue the new framework enhances transparency, yet bypassing ACIP's review and dismissing its members undermines that aim. Extensive data demonstrate that updated vaccines lower hospitalization and death rates, yet this evidence was sidelined. Such actions breed skepticism, making it harder to unite Americans around shared health goals. The stakes are high, but a better path is possible. Restoring trust requires transparent, evidence-based policymaking that prioritizes access to life-saving tools. I urge Secretary Kennedy and the administration to reconsider this framework, reinstate ACIP's role in vaccine policy, and ensure any new appointees are qualified, independent experts. If concerns about ACIP exist, they should be addressed through reform, not dissolution. Healthcare providers and community leaders must also educate patients about vaccination benefits, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant women and those with high exposure. Individuals can take action by staying informed, discussing vaccination with their doctors, and advocating for clear, equitable access to vaccines. By working together—government, providers, and citizens—we can protect lives, reduce the burden of Long COVID, and rebuild confidence in our public health system. We must seize this opportunity to unite around science and ensure a healthier, safer, and prosperous future for all Americans.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Keeping children safe during the pool season
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1 to 4. It's the second leading cause of unintentional deaths for children ages 5 to 14. This information comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A national nonprofit wants to bring an end to unintentional drownings. It's called the ZAC Foundation. The foundation was established in 2008. The founders, Karen and Brian Cohn, suffered the loss of their six-year-old son, Zachary, in a pool drain entrapment in their backyard swimming pool. Megan Ferraro is the executive director of the ZAC Foundation. She is also the chair of the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan. She spoke about the developing action plan being designed in Austin and Central Texas to keep children safe during the summer season. There were 103 drownings in Texas in 2024. Ferraro spoke about the role parents play in making sure their children are safe. The simple and easy-to-do safety tips begin with keeping your toddler/child within arm's reach and making sure you're watching them at all times. If you have a pool at home, make sure there is appropriate fencing of some variety around the pool and lock it when the pool is not in use to prevent the young ones from getting in and falling into the water. Ferraro talked about the importance of getting your children swimming lessons, and, if needed, swimming lessons for yourself if you don't know how to swim. The ZAC Foundation's commitment to keeping children safe is enhanced through a partnership with community partners, such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, to provide ZAC camps. The goal? To ensure these organizations have a drowning prevention action plan to reduce, if not eliminate, drowning rates. The ZAC Foundation has an informative website that offers tips to prevent drowning, and safety precautions for all child age groups from infant to toddler to teen. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
It Sure Seems Like One Key GOP Vote Regrets Appointing RFK Jr.
Senator Bill Cassidy promised the American people that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would not make any changes to the CDC's vaccine advisory committee when he cast his decisive confirmation vote for the HHS secretary. But on Monday RFK Jr. scrapped the board entirely, leaving Cassidy scrambling to explain himself and his vote. 'Of course, now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion,' Cassidy posted on X after Kennedy explained his rationale in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. 'I've just spoken with Secretary Kennedy, and I'll continue to talk with him to ensure this is not the case.' When asked what he said specifically to Kennedy to 'ensure' that the immunization advisory committee wouldn't be run by anti-vaxers, Cassidy went mum. 'I'd rather just characterize it as: we had a conversation,' he told Semafor's Burgess Everett on Tuesday. When Burgess asked if Cassidy was 'still comfortable' with voting to confirm RFK Jr. in February, Cassidy replied 'I'd rather not comment on that.' During the confirmation process Cassidy explicitly guaranteed that 'If confirmed, [RFK Jr.] will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without changes.' Either Cassidy was lying, or RFK Jr. was lying to Cassidy. Now all of the other promises that Cassidy made on RFK's behalf—like not making false claims about vaccines causing autism, or even appearing before Congress on a quarterly basis—are moot. Cassidy claimed that he studied his decision to confirm Kennedy 'exhaustively' and took it 'very seriously.' It's clear that Cassidy's words meant nothing as Kennedy guts a key institution of our national health apparatus.