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Why get vaccinated against Measles and Rubella?
Measles and rubella (RR) are very contagious diseases. Without vaccination, almost everyone gets these diseases at one time or another. They are often not serious but they can cause complications which are sometimes serious, even fatal.
These diseases are among the most contagious. Thus, a person infected with measles can infect between 15 and 20 people (by comparison a person with the flu infects between 1 and 3 people).
Vaccination serves a dual purpose:
- The first is that it allows individual protection: it protects you from diseases!
- The second is to allow collective protection because it blocks the transmission of disease germs between individuals;
Complications of measles
Measles is a very contagious disease that can affect children, adolescents, and young adults, the most serious complications are pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) which can leave serious neurological consequences. It can also cause frequent ear infections and laryngitis, bronchitis, convulsions (loss of consciousness), damage to the brain and lungs, damage to the eyes which can lead to blindness, severe diarrhea, etc.
Complications of Rubella
- Rubella, in pregnant women, can cause serious fetal malformations.
- Maybe the cause of abortion, stunted growth, death of the newborn, blindness, deafness, or heart problems.
For these two diseases, there is no specific effective treatment, the only solution is vaccination.
The national immunization schedule recommends carrying out 2 doses of the measles vaccine against rubella:
the first dose at 9 months of age for all children the second dose is recommended at 18 months of age. Catch-up vaccination is still necessary for anyone who has not completed their vaccination