By Susan Kressly, MD, FAAP, President, American Academy of Pediatrics
“As a pediatrician, I am heartbroken to learn that a child has died from measles. This is a tragic and devastating loss, and our thoughts are with the family and community affected. One death from a preventable disease is one too many.
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine prepares children’s immune systems to detect and resist these viruses, protecting them from serious illness. The reason many parents in the U.S. have not had to worry about measles in decades is because of widespread immunization with this safe and effective vaccine. However, when immunization rates drop in a community, the disease can spread, putting our most vulnerable—especially young children—at risk.
No parent should have to experience the loss of a child to a preventable disease. Vaccines save lives. Pediatricians are here to talk with families about their child’s health, including how they can access vaccines. We must support immunization programs so that children in every community get the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong.”
##
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
