It’s no secret that Pennsylvania has one of the worst measles vaccination percentages; that is to say, the second lowest country-wide. Figures show that only 86 percent of school-aged children are vaccinated against the infectious disease; in two counties the percentage is even less than 80 percent. Data that might have gone unnoticed were it not that the US faces the worst outbreak of measles since its eradication, 15 years ago and which, in addition to over one hundred infected, has opened up the debate regarding whether or not vaccinating children should be the choice of parents.

Alarmed by the figures and convinced, in his own words, that “one of the best ways to protect children and our public health system is to vaccinate them”, Senator Bob Casey has wanted to encourage the citizens of Pennsylvania to vaccinate their children through a letter, endorsed by UPenn professor Dr. Paul Offit and addressed to the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Health Department, Karen Murphy. The result is a text in which Casey, in addition to stating his concern regarding the low are of minors that are immunized and thank the efforts of the agency in the field, has analyzed the benefits of vaccination, according to his opinion. “As you know, thanks to your years of experience in the field of health, measles is highly contagious, but very easy to prevent through vaccination. Vaccines have been safely and effectively used for many years. According to expert physicians, close to 95 percent of the population should be vaccinated against measles in order to minimize the infection and protect those that cannot be vaccinated. Children infected with measles are at risk of suffering complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis”, Casey ensured.  

“I respect the right of people to make decisions based on their own religious beliefs. However, we are responsible for protecting the health of the most vulnerable children”. Therefore, Senator Casey concluded his letter to Karen Murphy offering his help and stating, on the one hand, his gratitude for the work performed and, on the other, urging her to study the reasons by Pennsylvania is at the end of the line regarding vaccination.