Vaccine Information Archive  

Measles

Articles & Further Information  

Disease Definition

A highly infectious disease, measles is caused by the Morbillivirus. It takes between 10 - 14 days for symptoms to show after infection.

Measles is spread from person to person through droplets in the air. Infected people can spread the disease a few days before the symptoms appear.

Symptoms include:
rash; fever; cough; runny nose; and inflammation of the eye.

Complications of measles include ear, brain and lung infections, which can lead to brain damage and death.

Source: www.immunise.health.gov.au

Measles was a common childhood disease prior to the introduction of widespread vaccination, and up until about 30 years ago was generally described as a benign illness. The difference today is that children seem to have become weaker “due to drugs, pollution, vaccinations and poor nutrition” (Dr. Peter Baratosy).

Studies into Vitamin A levels in children with measles have shown that those with lower levels generally have more problems. Serious complications typically only occur in children who are malnourished and have a poor, suppressed immune system, or those who already have some other serious disease.

About the vaccine

Adverse reactions associated with the measles vaccine are numerous, and in many cases extremely serious, being predominantly neurological. They include things like: encephalitis, meningitis, autism, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (which causes hardening of the brain), seizure disorders, deafness and more.

“I would consider the risks associated with measles vaccination unacceptable even if there were convincing evidence that the vaccine works. There isn’t.”  – Dr. Robert Mendelsohn (pediatrician)

There is good reason to question the effectiveness of this vaccine, with numerous outbreaks of the disease in fully immunised populations having been well documented. In fact the occurrence of some outbreaks is actually attributed to the vaccine itself.

Unlike the natural occurrence of measles, vaccination does not give a child lifelong immunity (hence the need for booster shots).

This has had  the follow on effect that:

1. measles is now occurring more commonly in adults (where complications are much more likely), and
2. in infants born to mothers who themselves were vaccinated, (because vaccine immunity disappears over time the measles antibodies that would normally be passed from mother to child are absent, thus creating a situation where early susceptibility is more likely).

Vaccines used in Australia:

The measles vaccine does not come as a single vaccine, but is given in combination with mumps and rubella in the MMR vaccine. 

(see MMR page for combination Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccines) 

1. The Australian Immunisation Handbook , 8th Edition 2003
2. The Vaccine Guide by Randall Neustaedter OMD
3. Vaccination? It’s your informed choice by Dr. Peter Baratosy
4. How to raise a healthy child in spite of you doctor by pediatrician Dr. Robert S. Mendelsohn, MD