Medical Experts Available to Discuss Vaccination

Rutgers Medical Experts Available to Discuss Vaccination

Rutgers University experts are available to provide commentary and analysis on vaccination in light of the measles outbreak, and developing news. The measles cases in the United States have surpassed the highest number on record since the disease was declared eliminated nationwide in 2000.

• Glenn Fennelly MD, MPH, professor of the department of pediatrics at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, is an expert in pediatric infectious diseases:

Fennelly said: “There are estimated to be more than 13,500 children in New Jersey who have not been vaccinated for medical or religious reasons. While that's only 2.5 percent of children in the state, these children are especially vulnerable to infection during outbreaks of infections such as measles. No community is an island. Without sustained high levels of vaccination in all communities, there will continue to be outbreaks in the United States and globally as unvaccinated children are tinder for potential wild-fire spread of measles. Whereas the overall risk for death from measles in United States is estimated at 1 in 1000, measles in malnourished children in less developed nations, in children who cannot be vaccinated because their immune systems are weakened (due to chemotherapy or immunodeficiency) or infants less than 1 year old results in a much higher risk of death.

“A parent's decision to not vaccinate a child against measles anywhere puts children everywhere at risk for this killer disease. Every parent must make a choice. A parent's refusal to vaccinate their child in the United States may increase the chance that infants too young to be immunized, children who medically cannot be immunized, or children at risk for malnutrition in certain developing countries will die from measles.”

For interviews, contact Fennelly at [email protected].

• Margaret Quinn, DNP, CPNP is a clinical associate professor at the School of Nursing. Her special interests involve vaccination safety:

Quinn said: “Parents want to make the best decisions for their children but the effects of social media, and other influences can sometimes challenge these decisions. Parents need to understand how far we have come with health promotion and decreasing mortality from these once very common, yet paralyzing and/or deadly diseases. I encourage all parents to speak with their primary care providers to understand the risks of non-vaccination.  As a provider, I would rather treat a child with a mild side effect from a vaccination, than the disease itself.”

For interviews, contact Quinn at [email protected].

• Pooja Shah, clinical assistant professor at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.

Shah said: “It is imperative that patients understand the benefits of vaccines, the costs and resurgence of vaccine preventable diseases, and have access to scientifically reliable information.  Misinformation about the safety of vaccinations has led to a decrease rate of vaccinations. Lack of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination in a large has led to more than 650 cases of measles in the first 4 months of 2019 – the largest outbreak in 20 years.  Everyone has to work together to get vaccinated and eliminate these diseases completely.  Vaccines will protect our patients and our communities.”

For interviews, contact Shah at [email protected].