A rush of people – many of whom once were opposed to vaccination – are flooding doctors’ offices and hospitals for measles vaccine.
The surge in vaccinations follows a measles outbreak that originated in Disneyland last month. More than 90 cases of measles have been linked to the theme park, and some doctors blamed the anti-vaccination movement for how quickly the disease spread.
In San Diego, the rush to get vaccinated is being felt at Scripps Family medicine.
“Probably about 50 percent of my patients who weren’t vaccinating before are now coming in to vaccinate,” said Dr. Mark Shalauta.
Shalauta also said many adults are calling his office to see if they need a booster shot.
A small vial contains a vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella and doctors say a shot of this vaccine can protect you up to 95 percent throughout your adult life.
“Physicians or health care should have to, but otherwise adults if they just had one, that’s considered enough and that’s considered immune,” Shalauta said.
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Doctors say the silver lining of the measles outbreak is the heightened awareness of the disease.
“Probably the one good thing that has come out of this whole thing is that people are rethinking it and a lot more are getting vaccinated as a result,” Shalauta said.
Local Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez has also introduced legislation that would eliminate waivers for parents choosing not to vaccinate their kids.
