Measles may sound like an outdated disease, but measles cases within the United States reached a notable 15-year high in 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Tennessee alone, there were three reported cases in 2011, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. We asked Infectious Disease Specialist Keith English, MD, to weigh in. Why are we seeing so many cases? English says it’s because kids are not getting vaccinated as they should.

"The increase in measles cases is a reminder of how important it is to vaccinate our children against measles,” said English.  “Though measles is no longer an 'endemic' in the United States, cases still occur when people from other countries who are infected with the measles virus come to the U.S.”

U.S. citizens who’ve traveled or lived in a foreign country can return with the virus, and tourists traveling to the U.S. from another country can bring the virus here, he says. And because measles is so highly contagious, unvaccinated people can become infected without direct contact with an infected individual.

"Most of the 222 cases reported in the U.S. last year could have been prevented by simply following the recommendations for universal immunization against the measles virus," said English.

Due to a now-retracted British study that linked autism to childhood vaccines, there is still anxiety among parents when it comes to immunizing their children. A recent article published in the Commercial Appeal discussed various stories of parents seeking alternatives to childhood vaccinations.

To keep our readers educated and informed on this subject, Dr. Keith English, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital’s interim pediatrician in-chief and director of  Infectious Disease, gives his insight below.

My colleagues and I agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that vaccines are “one of the most successful medical advances of all time.”  Childhood vaccines have prevented millions of infections and saved hundreds of thousands of lives in the United States alone. They remain the greatest triumph of modern medicine and are the single most important way to protect our children from dangerous infectious diseases today.

There is no evidence that vaccines cause autism, period. Thousands of children have suffered and died from vaccine-preventable infectious diseases in the past 12 years because of the public concerns raised by an unethical and fraudulent claim.

At Le Bonheur, we recommend that parents make sure their children are fully immunized, according to the vaccine schedule published each year by the AAP. For reliable information about childhood vaccines, talk to your pediatrician or consult reputable sources such as the AAP.

Grandparents – or anyone older than age 65 caring for a baby -- should get vaccinated against pertussis, or whooping cough, according to a recent recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The recommendation was already established for parents of babies.

“It's very important for new parents, grandparents and other household members to be vaccinated against pertussis in order to help prevent exposure of young infants who are at a higher risk for severe disease,” said Keith English, MD, Le Bonheur’s interim pediatrician in-chief and an infectious disease specialist.

Receiving their first diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine at 2 months of age, babies aren’t fully immunized against pertussis until age 6 months.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pertussis has been a growing problem, with more than 27,000 cases reported in the United States last year.

English also reminds parents and caregivers that it is equally important for all household members to get a flu shot, as infants aren’t eligible for influenza immunization until 6 months of age.

“We recommend that everyone older than age 6 months receive annual influenza immunization. It is just particularly important to do this when there is a young infant in the home,” said English.

More than 21,000 people got whooping cough last year, many of them children and teens. That's the highest number since 2005 and among the worst years in more than half a century, U.S. health officials said Wednesday. Le Bonheur Infectious Disease Chief, Dr. Keith English provides some good information for parents who have questions and concerns regarding whooping cough. Here’s what he had to say.

Pertussis or whooping cough is a serious, potentially life-threatening infection that is particularly dangerous in young infants.  The best way to protect your children from pertussis is to make sure that they and everyone who lives in the home with them is immunized against it.

When does my child receive the vaccine
The primary immunization series for children includes the DTaP infant vaccine.  The first three doses of DTaP are given at 2, 4 and 6 months of age, and then boosters are later given at 15-18 months of age and at 4-6 years of age.

When will the vaccine take effect in my child
As with many other childhood immunizations, the pertussis vaccine provides greater protection after the 2nd and 3rd doses..

Should pregnant women and/or caregivers and close contacts be vaccinated
Protection of the most vulnerable infants - those less than 2 months of age who are not yet immunized and those 2-4 months of age who have only received one dose of pertussis vaccine- can only be accomplished by ALSO vaccinating close contacts of these young infants. This includes a first dose of the Tdap vaccine (this form is indicated for adolescents and adults) for teenagers and a booster dose of Tdap every 10 years for adults.  
It is particularly important for mothers of young infants to be immunized -- ideally, pregnant women should receive Tdap before pregnancy.  Otherwise, it is strongly recommended that Tdap be given shortly after delivery, before leaving the hospital or birthing center.  In situations such as a community outbreak of pertussis, the mother's physician should consider administering Tdap during pregnancy.

How is pertussis spread
Pertussis is spread by exposure to droplets in close proximity, usually within 3 feet, to a patient with pertussis who is coughing or sneezing.  One problem is that pertussis may be quite mild in teenagers or adults, who may spread the bacteria to a young infant at increased risk of severe disease.

As with other respiratory illnesses, good hand hygiene and avoiding contact with other children or adults with acute respiratory illnesses can also help limit the spread of pertussis.

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/pertussis.

In the Wednesday, November 3 edition of Memphis’ Commercial Appeal, Dr. Keith English, Infectious Disease Chief at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital encouraged parents and healthcare workers to receive their flu vaccine. In the Guest Editorial piece written by English, he stresses the critical influence people can have against another dangerous flu outbreak by getting vaccinated.  Read his guest column by clicking here.