As New York faces the worst measles epidemic since 1991 and more cases are being reported across the U.S. one mom hits out at the parents who still refuse to vaccinate their children.
Fainy Sukenik believes in vaccines, and ensures her four children are up to date on all of their shots.
But her 8-month-old baby Shira Goldschmidt, who was too young to be vaccinated, contracted measles and became so sick she had to be hospitalized.
Now the frustrated mom has hit out at those parents who refuse to vaccinate their children and thousands of people have reacted.
What is Measles?
Measles is a viral infection which results in a fever, cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes and a red blotchy skin rash.
There is no treatment to get rid of it and it can be serious for small children.
According to the CDC: “Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90 per cent of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected. Infected people can spread measles to others from four days before through four days after the rash appears.”
Measles outbreak
For every 1,000 people who contract measles one person will die from it.
Both in the U.S. and Israel, where Fainy lives, there are ongoing measles outbreaks.
Fainy’s 8-month-old baby became infected with the disease in December 2018 and had to be hospitalized due to complications that arose from the disease.
“I’m so angry and so frustrated,” mom Fainy said. “On Facebook, I wrote to the anti-vaxers, ‘you are hurting our kids because of your choice.'”
Infectious disease experts say anti-vaxers who’ve chosen not to vaccinate will spread measles to babies under age 1 whose parents want to vaccinate them but can’t because they’re too young.
“It’s absolutely inevitable,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine scientist at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, according to CNN.
Measles vaccine
Anti-vaccination groups often spread the idea there is a link between vaccines and autism. A claim that has been wholly refuted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Baby Shira got sick with a runny nose and a 104-degree fever. When red spots appeared a few days later, her parents knew it was measles.
She had to be taken to hospital after her breathing became shallow and she was too weak to lift her head. She was put in isolation and received intravenous fluids.
Received more than 4,000 comments
In December, Fainy published a post on Facebook addressing those who believed that vaccinations were wrong.
“It should be stated that they have a right to believe in anything they choose, but we should also talk about the price that others pay,” Fainy wrote in Hebrew.
She suggested that anti-vaxers either “stay in enclosed areas or hold a big banner noting that you are anti-vaccine.”
“Now, baruch Hashem, Shira is OK; she is happy; she has started walking,” Fainy said, using the Hebrew phrase for thanking God.
Fainy says her post has received more than 4,000 comments both positive and negative.
I really do not understand why people don’t vaccinate their kids. When I was younger, there was no debate. There was no question.
I don’t understand the stupidity behind all of this.
Please share to encourage those parents who haven’t vaccinated their children to reconsider.
