Vaccinations a “must” for college-bound

In the rush and excitement of preparing young adults for college, parents sometimes overlook an important, lifesaving step: updating their child’s immunizations.

With the recent measles and mumps outbreaks documented across the United States and the new school year starting soon, it’s important to consider what vaccinations your child may need.

Students heading to college this fall are at a higher risk than others their age of contracting communicable diseases due to dormitories’ close living quarters and community bathrooms. Students also regularly congregate in large numbers, such as in classrooms and dining halls.

The good news is that many illnesses may be prevented by vaccinations.

The measles virus is an airborne illness that can survive on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected individual coughs or

sneezes. In addition to a rash, fever and general malaise, measles may cause complications such as pneumonia and brain swelling. Measles also may lead to longterm complications, including a rare but fatal disease of the nervous system.

Mumps is spread by sneezing, coughing or sharing utensils with an infected person and can cause swollen salivary glands, fever and general malaise. Mumps also may cause inflammation of the brain, and in testicles in males and ovaries in females.

Both measles and mumps may be prevented by a combination vaccine, the MMR, which has been available since 1971.

This vaccine is so successful that in 2000 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared measles eradicated in the U.S. However, due to the “antivax” movement and a recent decrease in immunization rates,