Sen. Schumer Wants Measles Vaccine More Accessible
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Sen. Charles Schumer is urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make measles shots free and widely available, like the flu vaccine.
Schumer, D-N.Y., made the recommendation Sunday, noting that the CDC says at least 102 people have contracted measles in 14 states, including New York and New Jersey, so far this year. There was a record number of cases last year -- 644 in 27 states.
"It's clear that we need to get on top of this highly contagious disease before it becomes too big for us to control," Schumer told reporters, including WCBS 880's Jim Smith.
Schumer Wants Measles Vaccine More Accessible
Part of the discussion is that parents and others are declining to vaccinate their children, and some in the health care community are discouraging vaccination. To that, Schumer said the vaccine works, 1010 WINS' Derricke Dennis reported.
Schumer, who contracted measles as a boy, said doctors need to educate parents about the benefits and safety of the vaccine.
MORE: Measles Cases And Outbreaks (From CDC)
"I think a lot of people didn't realize the danger of measles until recently," Schumer said.
Schumer urged the CDC to provide vaccines to schools and health clinics.
"Too many people unvaccinated because they think the measles vaccine is expensive and hard to get," the senator said.
Schumer Wants Measles Vaccine More Accessible
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, is given in a series of shots. Health professionals recommend young children get two doses and adults get at least one booster.
Measles was said to be eradicated in the U.S. in 2000, but it is making a comeback because of low vaccination rates.
Medical experts say failure to vaccinate children could lead to an outbreak in vulnerable people, like young children and unvaccinated elderly, CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported.
"So when you have outbreaks, children in day care centers like we saw in Chicago become vulnerable," explained Anthony Fauci, with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "If there's enough infection in the country to allow for these outbreaks like what we saw in California at Disneyland."
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