Calling inoculation the ‘safest way to protect communities’ Banner Lassen Medical Center is urging area residents to get vaccinated for the measles as towns across the country face an outbreak of the highly infectious disease.
In four of the seven states Banner Health serves, communities are facing measles outbreaks.
Measles is a highly contagious, potentially fatal disease that can be prevented through vaccination. Its complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and deafness. Pregnant women who develop measles may give birth prematurely or deliver low-birth-weight babies.
Once common in the United States, measles was eliminated here in 2000 but has returned. In January 2015, there were 102 cases in 14 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado and Nebraska, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Banner Health strongly urges parents to have their children vaccinated against the measles. Children who are not vaccinated increase the risk of infection for infants under the age of one, cancer patients and those with weakened immune systems.
“Our health care providers, most of whom are parents themselves, have studied the scientific literature regarding vaccine safety and believe that there is no good evidence linking the measles vaccine to developmental disorders such as autism,’’ said Marjorie Bessel, MD, vice president of Continuum Management for Banner Health.
As a health care organization, Banner places extreme importance on preventing the spread of all infectious diseases, she said.
Banner’s ‘No Flu for You’’ campaign requires all employees be vaccinated against influenza. Employees who choose not to be vaccinated must either wear a mask while at work or forego employment at Banner. “We took this stance to prevent flu transmission to our patients, members of our staff and their loved ones,’’ Bessel said.
As a condition of employment, all Banner employees must also be vaccinated against measles. Banner is now making every effort to ensure that all of its 39,000 employees are in compliance.
“We are telling our patients the best way to protect themselves and their children is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine,’’ said Viren Bavishi, DO, Banner’s chair of Clinical Pediatrics for Banner Medical Group.
“If you or your child has not had the MMR vaccine or you are not current on other recommended vaccinations, we urge you to make an appointment with your primary care physician and protect your family against this preventable illness,’’ he said.
