Every day 600 children die globally from measles; a disease many people in the U.S. believe no longer exists. Since January 2008 there have been 132 diagnosed cases in 15 states, all of whom were unvaccinated children (USA Today, July 14, 2008).

In the counties surrounding North Lake Tahoe, the vaccination rate for MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) varies. According to local health statistics Washoe County has vaccinated 98 percent of school age children (K-12), Placer County has vaccinated 93.43 percent and Nevada County with 86.25 percent against MMR.
According to reports from the USA Today, the recent rise in measles cases in the United States is largely due to parents who decided not to have their children vaccinated against measles. However, in many developing countries, parents don’t have this choice. Since 2001 the Measles Initiative has been working to change this situation. In collaboration with local ministries of health, the initiative has supported the vaccination of more than 500 million children in 50 countries. This has been a major contributor to a dramatic reduction in global measles deaths. At the Northern Nevada Red Cross we are supporting these efforts by raising awareness and funds to prevent measles. Today, July 23, Shots for Shots will be held at Rookies where discounted shots as well as a raffle will help raise funds to vaccinate children.

Until families everywhere have the opportunity to immunize their children against measles, children will be under threat, and, tragically, many more will get sick or die from this disease.

Allison Mitchell and Kirstin Stamm
Incline Village