Amidst growing measles outbreaks, AMA urges public to get vaccinated

CHICAGO — In the wake of an announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that there have been more cases of measles in the first three months of 2019 than in all of 2018, the American Medical Association (AMA) today issued the following statement urging individuals to check their immunization status and get vaccinated against the measles if not already immune.

“Getting vaccinated not only keeps individuals from becoming ill with the measles but also helps prevent further spread to loved ones, neighbors, co-workers and others in close contact,” said AMA President Barbara L. McAneny, M.D. “As evident from the measles outbreaks currently impacting communities in several states, when individuals are not immunized as a matter of personal preference or misinformation, they put themselves and others at risk of disease. The overwhelming scientific evidence shows that vaccines are among the most effective and safest interventions to both prevent individual illness and protect the health of the public. We are also reminding physicians to talk with their patients about the health risks associated with not being vaccinated and make a strong recommendation for vaccinations, unless medically inadvisable.