Measles Vaccination Saves You From More Than Measles

[IDemo]

Here's another reason to get vaccinated against measles - researchers have found the measles virus makes kids' immune systems "forget" most of what they have learned, leaving children vulnerable to other diseases for as long as three years.

The findings, published in the journal Science, help explain why deaths and illnesses from a range of diseases plummet in countries after they introduce measles vaccine campaigns.

"Our findings suggest that measles vaccines have benefits that extend beyond just protecting against measles itself," said Michael Mina, a medical student at Emory University who worked on the study while doing postdoctoral research at Princeton University.

"It is one of the most cost-effective interventions for global health."

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/measles-outbreak/measles-vaccination-saves-you-more-measles-n355501

[postulater]

1. Why is it good to leave children vulnerable to other diseases for as long as three years?

That seems like a negative effect to me.

[blue neen]

2. I think it means if children actually contract the measles.

The article is a little confusing.

[IDemo]

4. I didn't find it confusing

It made the point that children who contract measles can suffer other diseases as a result of a compromised immune system.

[nilram]

5. ditto. thanks for posting!

[blue neen]

7. Well, honestly, I didn't really find it confusing, either...

but someone did. Sometimes it's nice to cut people some slack.

Thanks for posting the article. It's informative and important.

[Hekate]

3. HAVING measles makes you vulnerable to other diseases. Measles VACCINE protects you.

It's a fascinating study, but one borne out by generations of mothers who nursed their children through childhood illnesses and watched a lot of them die right into the 20th century. Even in mid century, I.e. The 1950s-1950s, complications could be severe due to a weakened immune system from catching these common diseases.

[awoke_in_2003]

6. This reminds me...

I need to get all mine updated. Since the age of 18, the only thing I have updated is tetnus about 8 years ago. There was a time when you didn't have to do this, because every one vaccinated the normal vector of these things- kids. With all the anti-vaxxer idiots out there, I need to talk to my doctor on Wednesday when I get my annual physical.

[Omaha Steve]

8. Thanks for posting

[trotsky]

9. One of the go-to "arguments" used by the anti-vax movement is that somehow it's "better"...

to contract and fight off a disease than be vaccinated against it. It was a poor argument to begin with, since the risks of having a disease have always been greater than the risks of vaccination...

But this just blows that argument completely out of the water.

[LiberalAndProud]

10. The anti-vaxers are sadly absent from this thread.

With no controversy the thread sinks.

Too bad.

[beam me up scottie]

11. Not all of them.

They're just being coy, pretending they don't understand the article.



Kicking this for more exposure.