INTERVIEW: Are we at risk from a Measles outbreak in Australia?
A child with measles Source: Getty
Measles was once considered eliminated in the United States, thanks to the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and high immunisation rates. But because measles is so contagious experts say at least 95 percent of a community must be vaccinated to stop outbreaks - and that's not the case in the US, where there's been a serious outbreak in Texas witha couple of deaths. Vaccination rates have declined nationwide in the US since the COVID-19 pandemic, and most states are below the vaccination threshold for kindergartners. The worldwide decrease in vaccination levels is also being seen here in Australia. Paediatrian and vaccine expert Professor Margie Danchin is from the University of Melbourne and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and she's been speaking to SBS's Deborah Groarke
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