Measles immunization, when should the baby get it?

Ensuring the health of your baby is our responsibility as parents. The trick is to give vaccines to children based on their age. One of the basic vaccines that children must accept is measles immunization.

Measles is caused by the Rubeola virus or the measles virus. The measles virus lives in the mucous membranes of the nose and throat and is transmitted through the air.

Measles is a very contagious infection. The measles virus can survive in the air for two hours.

Measles infection can cause serious complications. People who are at high risk for measles and serious complications are those who have not been immunized against measles, especially in children under five years and adults over 30 years.

Measles complications that are often found are ear infections and diarrhea. Serious infections of the lungs, pneumonia, and encephalitis (swelling of the brain) can cause serious complications.

When measles occurs in pregnant women, this can cause premature birth and low birth weight.

The long-term complication of measles is SSPE (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis). SSPE causes permanent disorders of the nervous system.

The importance of measles immunization

The measles virus is very contagious. Before the discovery of the measles vaccine in 1963, an epidemic or measles epidemic occurred every two or three years and caused 2.6 million deaths per year.

After the systematic introduction and application of measles immunization, measles mortality rates have dropped significantly, by 80% between 2000 and 2017 worldwide.

Measles vaccine is also safe and inexpensive. Unfortunately, in 2017, there were 110,000 deaths from measles worldwide in children under five.

Measles vaccination program in Indonesia

Indonesia promotes routine programs for measles immunization, namely mumps and rubella vaccinations. Indonesia gives priority to MRI because of the risk of serious and fatal complications of measles and rubella.

MRI vaccination is given to children aged 9 months to 15 years with high coverage.

It is hoped that measles immunization will provide group immunity to reduce transmission on a larger scale. Measles immunization not only has a positive effect on oneself, but at the same time preserves the immunity of a region.

Fact - Vaccination against measles

Recently, Indonesians have been worried about inaccurate questions about measles vaccine. Here are some facts about measles immunization:

MR measles vaccine is a combination of vaccines (measles "M") and rubella (rubella "R")
MR vaccine is different from MMR vaccine. MMR vaccine prevents measles, rubella and mumps. Whereas MR vaccine prevents measles and rubella.
MR vaccine is given to all children aged 9 months to less than 15 years during the MR vaccination campaign.
In addition, magnetic resonance immunization is included in the routine immunization schedule and is intended for children aged 9 months to 18 months and the first year of replacement for primary / equivalent measles immunization.
For children who receive the first dose and repeated doses of measles immunization, magnetic resonance immunization is still given because of immunity to rubella.
MR vaccine does not cause autism. This time. There is no research that says that all types of vaccinations can cause autism.
MR vaccine has been proven effective in preventing measles and rubella. This vaccine is also safe because it has received recommendations from WHO and marketing authorization from POM,
Mild fever, red rash, mild swelling and pain in the area of vaccination are side effects of the MRI vaccine. A reaction is a normal reaction that will disappear in 2-3 days.

Measles cannot be underestimated because it can cause serious complications. Therefore it is very important to protect yourself with measles immunization. Hopefully this article can add to your understanding of the facts about measles immunization.