We are following the news about the recent uptick in measles cases.  We would like to remind you to keep your children up to date on their vaccines. We care for children of many ages, and some of them are too young to be protected by vaccination. For example, children younger than 6 months of age cannot get MMR vaccine. Others may not be able to receive certain vaccinations due to severe allergies, weakened immune systems from conditions like leukemia, or other reasons. To help keep them all safe, it is important that you and your children who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized. This not only protects your family but also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to your child's friends in our classrooms.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing. Measles starts with a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat, and is followed by a rash that spreads all over the body. An infected person can spread measles to others even before developing symptoms-from four days before they develop the measles rash through four days afterward. Children younger than 5 years of age and adults older than 20 years of age are at high risk of getting a serious case of measles.  

The best way to protect against measles is to get the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine shot (called the MMR shot). CDC recommends routine childhood immunization for MMR vaccine starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age or at least 28 days following the first dose.  Your children's health is a priority to us. Children younger than 5 years of age are at risk for a serious case of measles if they get it. 

More information from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
is available  here.