Rockland pediatricians urge parents to vaccinate for measles at 6 months

New York state has lowered its minimum vaccination age from 12 months to six.

News 12 Staff

May 2, 2019, 10:09 PM

Updated 1,820 days ago

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Pediatricians in Rockland County are urging parents to vaccinate their children for measles as young as 6 months old as the outbreak worsens.
Dr. Doug Puder is one pediatrician who agrees. He says Rockland pediatricians have made that recommendation since the start of the outbreak.
"We vaccinate at age 6 months," says Puder. "So once a baby turns 6 months, they get their first MMR."
With measles cases at a record high, New York state has lowered its minimum vaccination age from 12 months to six.
"The only reason it's not given before 6 months is not because anything bad would happen," says Puder. "It's just that the moms pass their antibodies to the baby and it doesn't work before 6 months. Otherwise we'd be giving it as early as possible."
Moms like Rebecca Ruberg, of New City, say they plan to vaccinate the minute their baby turns 6 months.
Pediatricians in Rockland tell News 12 that pregnant women and those with infants under 6 months shouldn't be afraid to go outside, but should stay away from public places with known measles exposure.
There are now 206 confirmed cases of measles in Rockland County.


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