The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours. For this reason, it is very infectious, and one person infected by measles can infect nine out of 10 of their unvaccinated close contacts.
I’ve reached the point that as long as we still have access to vaccines they can do as they please. I understand the public health implications, but just read about a big measles out break in Texas that has caused people to rush to let their kids vaccinated. They will learn—eventually.
Public health in USA is deeply rooted in the spirit of libertarianism. This makes most efforts to promote the public’s health uniquely difficult in America vs other countries.
Seatbelt laws are common today, but it took lots of arm twisting to get them passed. People didn’t want govt forcing them to wear seatbelts. Data showing the # of lives that could be saved was irrelevant; they were passed after data showed the # of dollars that could be saved.
Vaccines are very similar: they work, they save lives, we benefit from them. Unfortunately, in our context, an individual’s desire to be “left alone” far outweighs any benefit to the public’s health.
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Measles
The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours. For this reason, it is very infectious, and one person infected by measles can infect nine out of 10 of their unvaccinated close contacts.
Make childhood diseases (and death) great again!