Yes, Vaccinate

Good morning. 

Today, I want to cut through any notions to the contrary and clearly state that vaccinations are vital, safe and should be taken. These are not opinions, but scientific and historic facts. 

This topic is on my mind because I recently visited Student and Employee Health to get a measles vaccination. Yes, I opted to get a measles booster, even though it was eliminated as an endemic disease 25 years ago – for my health and the health of the people around me including family, friends, coworkers and UMMC patients and visitors. 

I received one dose of measles vaccine in 1967, when there were two versions of the vaccine, with one eventually giving way to the other that showed better efficacy and fewer side effects. 

I don’t know which version I received, but I know I only got one shot. So, with the outbreak of measles cases that first made news out of Texas and has spread to more than 1,000  known cases in multiple states, I decided to get another vaccination. I don’t want anything to do with the effects measles can have on the body, and the same goes for people I care about or for our patients. Measles is more than just a rash; it can lead to serious health issues at any age, including seizures, hearing loss, pneumonia, encephalitis and even death. If a quick needle in my arm can protect me, I’m in. 

Are vaccinations perfect? No. Have they repeatedly been proven effective and safe? Yes. There are limited cases where a person has a negative reaction to a vaccine. Those instances deserve research and should prompt talks with your health care provider before taking a vaccine but shouldn’t be a blanket reason to discount them. This isn’t a political or social matter – it’s a health care imperative. 

What’s happening in Texas can happen in Mississippi if we don’t stay vigilant, stay up to date on our own vaccinations, keep our kids protected and encourage those around us to do the same. We are all health care workers, regardless of your role or office location. Each of you has a connection to patient care and all of us should take a general approach to “Do no harm.” We have a duty to protect our patients, and ensuring vaccination compliance is a huge step to doing that. To my fellow “experienced” colleagues who may not remember getting two doses of a measles vaccine or may not be sure which version you took, Student and Employee Healthis happy to take out the guesswork and administer to you a booster dose or test you for antibodies. No matter your age, I encourage you to find verification that you are up to date on all your vaccinations, including MMR.  

I know not everyone is going to agree with my decision to get a measles booster or my general stance on vaccinations, but we’re not here to straddle that fence. As the state’s only academic medical center, we owe it to Mississippians to advocate for their health and well-being based on rigorous science. Promoting the safety and effectiveness of vaccines is essential in that effort and in ensuring that we never take a step backward on our journey toward A Healthier Mississippi.