With U.S. measles cases on the rise, Lexington Health Department stressing importance of vaccination

A recent uptick in measles cases around the country has some Kentucky medical professionals worried. According to the CDC, just 58 cases of measles were reported in the U.S. last year – but there’ve been 23 from last December through January 23^rd . Lindsey Todd, the Lexington Health Department’s Director of Nursing, said the two-dose MMR vaccination is the best way to avoid the highly contagious and potentially deadly disease.

“This specific vaccine is 96% effective if you if you receive both doses. And most of, if not all of the cases that you'll see of measles that CDC the reports are in unvaccinated children.”