“As I see it, every child who has not been vaccinated is a danger to him/herself and all other children. That deadly health threat cannot be allowed to stand.” – Delegate Eric Bromwell

In a submission to The Patch, Delegate Eric Bromwell outlines the dire measles epidemic facing our state and nation.

Despite measles being declared eliminated in 2000, we are experiencing a nationwide measles epidemic in 22 states, including Maryland, with over 700 cases reported. That’s the greatest number of cases reported in a single year. More than 500 of the people infected in 22 states were not vaccinated.

Bromwell continues by exploring the myths and facts regarding vaccinations. Noting the spread of misinformation as well as the debunked and retracted findings of then-Dr. Andrew Wakefield linking autism and vaccines, he advocates universal vaccination as the only way to truly stop the epidemic.

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that children receive the measles, mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine at age 12 to 15 months and again at 4 to 6 years old. Pediatric chiefs of every major hospital in Maryland, as well as the Baltimore County Department of Health, are united and emphatic in urging vaccination for all children. Maryland’s MMR vaccination rate among school age children is 98.6%, above the national average of 92% and the second highest in the nation.

Read the Delegate Browell’s full article in The Patch.