By John Q. Hosedrinker 
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The child, who had been too young to be vaccinated when they were infected by the virus, died of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a devastating complication of measles. It’s a tragedy, plain and simple. The news just hits hard, and it’s easy to feel the weight of it all. This poor child, unable to receive a life-saving vaccine, contracted measles and, years later, succumbed to this horrific condition. SSPE is an incurable disorder, relentlessly damaging the brain and, ultimately, leading to death. The reality is that measles, a disease we have the tools to largely prevent, can inflict unimaginable suffering.
About 1 in 10,000 people who get measles develops SSPE. But the risk soars to about 1 in 600 for infants. That puts into perspective the immense vulnerability of young children who are too young to be vaccinated. There are stages of SSPE. It starts with changes in personality and mood, maybe even a bit of memory loss. Then it progresses to jerking movements, seizures, and vision loss. Eventually, writhing and rigidity take over, leading to complications and, ultimately, death. It’s a slow, agonizing decline that affects not only the child but the entire family.
This is why vaccinations are so incredibly important. If everyone around a vulnerable infant is vaccinated, you significantly reduce the chance of transmission for those who can’t get vaccinated. That’s herd immunity in action, protecting the most vulnerable among us. It’s heartbreaking to think about the suffering this child endured, a stark reminder of the very real consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases. People often say that only a small fraction of kids who get measles die. But it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about the lifelong health complications that can arise, some of which can be fatal.
And, the sad truth is, these statistics often assume children have access to adequate healthcare. They also assume that parents are able and willing to get the treatment. The situation often gets worse than the statistics would suggest. Why is it so difficult for society to protect its most vulnerable members? Why can’t adults put aside misinformation and ensure that children don’t suffer from preventable diseases? We have the tools to protect children.
People who actively choose not to vaccinate their children have blood on their hands, in my opinion. I’ve read about the many complications that measles can cause, even after recovery, and I can’t comprehend the anti-vaccine stance. The measles vaccine wasn’t available when I was a kid, so I’m lucky to have survived my bout with it. What’s happened in the last few years has been awful and makes me feel really low. It’s almost as if herd immunity is important. I agree that this situation is a clear example. This child was, in effect, murdered by anti-vaxxers.
And there’s a real possibility that this will keep happening. This should be plastered on the walls. The largest physicians organization in the world has called for RFK Jr.’s removal. If he stays, we will be seeing a lot more deaths like this. Putting RFK Jr. in charge of major national health policies and downplaying the necessity of vaccines would result only in harm and death – preventable death. Herd immunity could have saved this child.
Herd immunity is the cornerstone of protecting young children from measles. It is essential to understand that the virus won’t spread if others are vaccinated, safeguarding babies under six months from exposure. The situation can get even more difficult when SSPE shows up a decade after the initial measles infection.
Imagine witnessing your teenage child slowly lose themselves to SSPE. Knowing there is absolutely nothing you can do is devastating. My heart breaks for the family. This is a horrible way to go, and even someone with a generally positive attitude can struggle with the weight of this kind of news. The little one caught it because they were too young for the vaccine.
The MMR vaccine isn’t given in early infancy. You typically get it at 12 months and again for kindergarten entry. In high-risk areas, it can be given at six months, but the child still needs three doses instead of two. Even the most careful parents can’t do much against measles besides vaccinating themselves before pregnancy and their older children. The fact that this is even political is so disgusting.
This situation illustrates the profound impact of disease and the importance of preventive measures. White-collar crime does far more harm, yet we don’t label it a form of murder. But in this instance, we can see an example of what is happening to those children. Measles spread due to the unvaccinated. These people are not pro-life. Once you are born, it’s “bootstraps baby” all your life. Herd immunity will soon be Darwin’s survival of the fittest evolution in no time.
Measles was functionally eliminated in the US in 2000. It’s a tragedy of a disease like this. If the population would vaccinate, then kids like this would be protected from being infected before they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves. Measles was essentially eradicated in the early 2000s until anti-vaccine insanity took hold. Critical thinking must not be your strong suit. Do you think the measles this child contracted appeared magically from nowhere? Anti-vax people allow preventable diseases to spread through the community, and the victims are often those too young or too to be vaccinated.
Everyone cares about these anti-vaxxers. If they were the only ones dying from their own stupidity – whatever. But they kill innocent people. A herd immunity would have prevented the child from being infected in the first place. This is a prime example of people in the world who can’t think through their thoughts and perhaps grow from learning. Measles was declared eliminated from the USA in the year 2000.