AccuWeather's Ali Reid speaks with Dr. Frank Esper from Cleveland Clinic Children's who shares some of the best ways to prevent measles from affecting your family.
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00:00Measles cases are on the rise across the U.S. and doctors say the best way to
00:05prevent the disease is through vaccination. It's one of the most
00:08contagious viruses in the world, spreading through coughs and sneezes and
00:13can linger in the air for up to two hours. When we look at all the kids who
00:17are getting measles, both now and in all the previous years, the vast majority of
00:23them are not vaccinated or only have one vaccine. It is very rare for you to
00:29actually see a child who received both doses of the vaccine to actually get
00:35measles. The measles vaccine has been around since the 1960s and is part of
00:40the MMR shot, which also protects against mumps and rubella. It's
00:45recommended that Children receive two doses, one at 12 to 15 months old and
00:50another between ages four and six to not only protect your child, but those
00:55around them too. There are some people who are who can't receive the vaccine
01:00because they're immune compromised or they're allergic to a component of the
01:05vaccine. And for those people, they really depend on all of us to be
01:10vaccinated to protect them. Experts say parents should check their child's
01:14vaccination records and talk to their pediatrician if they have any concerns
01:18with measles cases on the rise. Doctors stress that prevention is key for
01:24you other. I'm Allie Reed.