Nine out of 10. That’s roughly how many unvaccinated people will catch measles if they’re exposed to it, one of the highest infection rates of any disease we know. And measles is once again an issue, with a national outbreak that has driven cases to numbers this country hasn’t seen in decades. This National Immunization Awareness Month, I think it’s clear we need to recognize the importance of preventive care in protecting our communities.
It’s worth being clear about what this virus is. It can hang in the air for two hours after an infected person has left the room, and the first to suffer are always the most vulnerable.
The frustrating part is that we already have the answer. When a community’s vaccination rate stays high, the virus can’t get a foothold. Delaware’s protection is only as strong as how many of us are covered. Let that number drift down, and outbreaks move in fast.
I’m asking the officials who represent us to take this moment seriously. Speak plainly in support of vaccination access for those who need it and defend the programs that keep the vaccines accessible to every family in this state. Measles is preventable. If it spreads here, it won’t be because we lack the tools; it’ll be because we let our guard down.
Tim Maxey
Middletown
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
