Many parents want to have their baby vaccinated against measles, even if their child is not yet fourteen months old. The GGD Zuidoost-Brabant has been receiving this question about 25 times a week since the recent measles outbreak in the Eindhoven region, but only children older than fourteen months are vaccinated. This is because an earlier vaccination has less effect. “We are concerned,” says mother Maaike Cohn.
Before the recent measles outbreak, almost no one asked about such an early vaccination. 28 infections have currently been reported in the Eindhoven region. This mainly concerns unvaccinated children aged around five.
Children from the age of fourteen months are invited for the measles vaccination. This concerns the MMR vaccination (mumps, measles and rubella). However, many parents now want to have their children vaccinated earlier. Maaike Cohn from Tilburg is one of them. She has a baby under fourteen months old and also speaks to many other parents who are concerned. They really want their children to be vaccinated earlier.
“We would like to protect our children,” says Maaike. “We are not so much afraid of the measles itself, but of the meningitis that can occur as a result of the disease.” In some people, measles can lead to meningitis or pneumonia. According to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), one in ten thousand people die from this.
“You could say: that is very low. But it will only be your child. If you can protect your child, as a parent you want to do everything you can to prevent something like that,” says Maaike.
‘Less well protected’
The GGD says that these parents are always told ‘no’. The injections are not brought forward. According to a spokesperson, the limit of fourteen months was chosen because children are then protected against the virus as best and for as long as possible. If a child is vaccinated earlier, the child will be less well protected against measles in the short and longer term. This is due to the babies’ immune system.
“But less is not nothing,” says mother Maaike. “Then the children are still somewhat protected. If there is an outbreak, doesn’t it make sense to vaccinate?”
‘No need yet’
According to the GGD, there is currently no need to vaccinate babies earlier. According to a spokesperson, this is only necessary in the event of a huge outbreak, because then there is a much higher risk of people becoming infected. The GGD cites the major outbreak in 2013 as an example, in which around three thousand cases of measles were reported.
Currently, 28 people are infected with measles. “With the current figures, the chance that children will come into contact with the virus is small,” the spokesperson said. If an unvaccinated child has been in direct contact with someone who is infected, vaccination can be offered earlier. “We’re watching it closely.”
MORE NEWS ON THE MAZAL OUTBREAK:
The measles outbreak in the Eindhoven region is slightly larger
The measles outbreak is unusual, but we should not exaggerate, according to this doctor
Should we worry about measles? Doctor Anke explains
Tags: baby vaccinated measles
