Some East Bay doctors recommending earlier immunization
SAN RAMON, Calif. (KGO) -- There is a confirmed outbreak of measles in Contra Costa County. Some doctors are talking about what they can do to keep young patients safe.
Bishop Ranch Pediatrics in San Ramon is considering vaccinating babies at a younger age with the measles, mumps, and rubella, or MMR, vaccine.
They have a stop sign on their front door advising those with symptoms consistent with measles to stay outside, as a way to protect their youngest patients.
"One of the things they have done in past epidemics is give vaccines at a younger age. That's an option," said doctor Alice Brockt Utne.
Babies now are eligible for the vaccination at 12 months.
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But doctor Alice Brock Utne says it might be time to consider doing it at nine months, which would mean more shots.
"The immunity isn't as lasting, so we wait a year. At a year, the immunity lasts longer. If we do it, we give it at nine months, give it again at 15 months and then again at 4 to 6 years," she explained.
This office is now putting pressure on parents who don't want to vaccinate by calling them and asking them to reconsider.
"We are able to pull data from patients up to the age of four who have not been vaccinated from MMR, and we are actually reaching out to those families and discussing the cases with them," said Gwen Jefferson, a manager at the center.
Larissa Marshal has baby girl who is just eight weeks old and still too young to be vaccinated. She doesn't seem to support the earlier vaccination.
"That's scary. You can't let things like that control your life and stop you from doing things like go to the grocery store. You just do what you can," she said.
State health officials say the earlier dose could be recommended in "limited, specific settings," but at this time, they don't think it's warranted.
For detailed information from the CDC on measles, click here.
And click here for full coverage on the measles outbreak.
