By Rev. Dr. Russell L. Meyer
Florida parents often assume measles is a virus their children will never face. Measles seems to be a vanquished illness –– a historic medical achievement of the past, not found in school pickup lines or pediatric waiting rooms. Unfortunately, that assumption is false.
According to the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, measles cases are being reported across the state, including 6 cases in Duval County, 103 in Collier County, and 145 statewide. These are significant numbers. They qualify as a measles outbreak.
Measles is a dangerous, even deadly childhood illness. It is one of the most contagious viruses in the world. Spread by both breathing and touching up to four days before symptoms appear, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says if one person has measles, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected.
In populous and interconnected communities, measles can spread rapidly. Families share schools, churches, childcare centers, and community spaces every day. Letting just a few cases multiply can quickly become an outbreak. And the most at risk of infection are infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
Florida’s vaccination rates help explain how outbreaks are possible. About 89 percent of Florida kindergarteners are fully vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella. Public health experts agree that 95 percent coverage is needed to prevent outbreaks. Risk expands greatly when vaccination rates fall below that threshold. It spreads from household to household, between houses of worship, and from one community to another.
The consequences of low vaccination rates are real for Florida families. Schools face disruptions. Parents miss work. Hospitals take on preventable strain. In the most serious cases, children and vulnerable adults suffer complications that can last a lifetime or result in death.
Two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine are nearly 97 percent effective at preventing measles. High vaccine rates helped eliminate the presence of the disease in the United States by 2000. But now we are seeing a failure to consistently maintain lifesaving vaccine rates. The measles virus persists in the environment and can infect unvaccinated children unpredictably.
It’s heartbreaking to think that an unvaccinated child could come home from school and infect their newborn sibling, aging grandparent, or family member fighting cancer with a deadly case of the measles. Yet that scenario plays out with low vaccination rates. When we vaccinate ourselves, we also protect others, especially those who cannot protect themselves. Our goal should always be freedom from disease, especially for those who can’t be vaccinated.
Faith seeks understanding, embraces knowledge, and welcomes beneficial innovation. Faith calls us to seek truth, exercise wisdom, and act with responsibility. We rely on clean water, seat belts, smoke alarms, and safe food because they prevent harm. And we watch out for our neighbor’s home when they go on vacation. Our quality of life includes the wellbeing of those around us. Vaccines belong to that same category of proven protection and safekeeping.
There have been concerns raised about vaccines in recent years, with the issue even being debated in next week’s Special Session. Asking questions is good and responsible parenting for making informed choices about our children’s health. Ask your pediatrician or family doctor. Misinformation abounds, especially in social media where the incentives are geared towards media hits rather than tested and proven facts. Don’t let the click mislead you. Fears spread like wildfires faster than facts.
It’s probably no accident that preventable diseases are making a rebound just as social media influencers make money with fear-grabbing attention. But we know that “perfect love casts out fear”. The strength of Florida is best measured not by fear or division or going it alone, but by how well our lives support the wellbeing of each other. As Scripture reminds us, “Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). Our freedom is not for our own self-indulgence (Galatians 5:13).
Choosing prevention, truth, and shared responsibility is one way we live out the calling to use our freedom for loving one another. That is faith active in love.
The Rev. Dr. Russell L. Meyer is Executive Director of the Florida Council of Churches and pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Jacksonville. An interfaith leader and longtime advocate for the common good, he works with faith communities across Florida on issues including health care, climate, and justice.
