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'Babies Become Sitting Ducks': Measles Resurges in South Carolina
South Carolina's measles outbreak, the worst in decades, is endangering babies as vaccination rates fall and anti-vaccine legislation gains momentum.
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lamplighter
Joined 2013/04/13Visited 2026/04/15
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Babies too young to be vaccinated are among the most vulnerable in a measles outbreak and depend entirely on herd immunity, where at least 95% of a community must be vaccinated to prevent measles outbreaks. https://to.pbs.org/4dI3Om3[image or embed] -- PBS News (@pbsnews.org) Apr 11, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Babies too young to be vaccinated are among the most vulnerable in a measles outbreak and depend entirely on herd immunity, where at least 95% of a community must be vaccinated to prevent measles outbreaks. https://to.pbs.org/4dI3Om3[image or embed]
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More from the article ...
... With baby Arthur too young for the measles vaccine and a sibling due in June, the Otwells grew nervous when the threat of the highly contagious virus started factoring into their grocery run. "We go to the Costco that was kind of a hotbed," said John Otwell, who knew about the state health department's warnings of public exposures at the store. "A lot of people just don't get it; they think it's just a cold. It's not." By Arthur's 9-month checkup, the South Carolina outbreak had exploded into the nation's worst in more than 35 years, surpassing last year's in Texas. That meant that under state guidance, Arthur could get his first dose of the MMR vaccine " for measles, mumps and rubella " earlier than the usual 12 to 15 months old. Their new baby won't be able to get the shot until at least 6 months " a prospect that worries parents of infants wherever measles spreads. Babies too young to be vaccinated are among the most vulnerable in a measles outbreak. The disease can wreak havoc on their fragile bodies, making them so sick they stop eating and drinking. They can develop pneumonia or brain swelling, and sometimes die. Babies depend entirely on herd immunity -- at least 95% of a community must be vaccinated to prevent measles outbreaks. But dropping vaccination rates have eroded protection in South Carolina and across the nation. In Spartanburg County, the outbreak's epicenter, less than 90% of students have gotten required vaccines. ...
"We go to the Costco that was kind of a hotbed," said John Otwell, who knew about the state health department's warnings of public exposures at the store. "A lot of people just don't get it; they think it's just a cold. It's not."
By Arthur's 9-month checkup, the South Carolina outbreak had exploded into the nation's worst in more than 35 years, surpassing last year's in Texas. That meant that under state guidance, Arthur could get his first dose of the MMR vaccine " for measles, mumps and rubella " earlier than the usual 12 to 15 months old. Their new baby won't be able to get the shot until at least 6 months " a prospect that worries parents of infants wherever measles spreads.
Babies too young to be vaccinated are among the most vulnerable in a measles outbreak. The disease can wreak havoc on their fragile bodies, making them so sick they stop eating and drinking. They can develop pneumonia or brain swelling, and sometimes die.
Babies depend entirely on herd immunity -- at least 95% of a community must be vaccinated to prevent measles outbreaks.
But dropping vaccination rates have eroded protection in South Carolina and across the nation. In Spartanburg County, the outbreak's epicenter, less than 90% of students have gotten required vaccines. ...
#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-13 09:15 PM | Reply
@#1 ... But dropping vaccination rates have eroded protection in South Carolina and across the nation. In Spartanburg County, the outbreak's epicenter, less than 90% of students have gotten required vaccines. ...
But MAGA seems to be illustrating that they only care about their own selves, and have little care for the community in which they live.
#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-13 09:17 PM | Reply
#2
How is not taking the vaccine only caring for yourself?
You seem to be implying vaccines are unsafe.
Also I see at various times people vote against their own self interest, how do you align these two thoughts.
My guess is the believe vaccines are unsafe, and thus don't take it.
My biggest question is why are the Spartanburg students allowed to go to school without the required vaccinations? dph.sc.gov
Finally the requirement is 5k-12 for measles, yet the article is concerned with babies?
#3 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-14 05:52 PM | Reply
You're a PEDOPHILE
#4 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-04-14 09:41 PM | Reply
#3 Imagine if you will, a 8 year old gets a highly contagious disease such as measles at school. They have an infant sibling at home. Do you think you can keep those siblings separated?
I used the above example because that is the makeup of my family. I was the youngest of 4, then came the "oops" baby 8 years later. I was also born before the vaccines were available. I don't remember having the measles because I was 2 at the time I caught them. All 4 of us had them at the same time. I had chicken pox when I was 21. It was not a fun experience. Be thankful for vaccines.
#5 | Posted by Chantresse at 2026-04-15 07:23 AM | Reply
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