Are you prepared? Vaccines protect what matters most 06.25.25

June 25, 2025

Are you prepared? Vaccines protect what matters most

MOBILE, Ala. — As of June 24, there were a total of 1,227 confirmed measles cases reported in 36 states. Many of these states are prime travel spots for families during the summer break.

Alabama has not had a confirmed case of measles for some time, but earlier this month the public health and medical communities were called to action to respond to a possible case that was eventually determined not to be a case of measles.

The earlies stages of the investigation resulted in contacting many residents and educating them on the need for vaccinations and directing them to their supporting health clinics to be evaluated or vaccinated. This was a wake-up call to everyone.

“Vaccines protect what matters most,” said Dr. Kevin Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County. “The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is your best defense against measles. We need to stay up to date on school aged vaccines for children.”

Many individuals will be encountering travelers from across the United States and even globally. Measles is present internationally as well as in the United States. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97 percent effective in presenting measles, while one dose is 93 percent effective.

Being unvaccinated puts your children and others at risk from severe complications to include lung and brain infections and in some cases death. Most common complications are diarrhea and ear infections making the individual feel even worse after the fever, cough, and congestion.

If you have a fever, cough, congestion, or eye irritation — along with a rash of both flat and raised skin lesions which begin on the head and spread downward — you should immediately isolate and communicate with a medical provider via telephone. The medical community can provide immediate assistance and make accommodations to have the sick individual evaluated further in a clinic.

“Just do not show up in the clinic or emergency room without any prior communication,” Dr. Michaels said. “There might be others who are not vaccinated and at increased risk for complications.”

Measles is a viral illness with no specific treatment other than staying well hydrated and comfort measures. You need to stay away from others that are not vaccinated until cleared by your medical provider. Individuals with measles are contagious four days before their rash onset through four days after their rash started to appear.

If you are in doubt of your vaccination status or need to be vaccinated, see your local health care clinic. If the clinic does not have the vaccine, then many local pharmacies carry vaccines.