The FDA is reminding parents and caregivers about the importance of getting children up to date on their vaccines for back-to-school season.
“We cannot state strongly enough that overwhelming scientific evidence shows that vaccines are among the most effective and safest interventions, to both prevent individual illness and protect public health,” said Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

The US continues to experience cases and outbreaks of measles, largely due to unvaccinated or under-vaccinated segments of the population, according to the FDA. This year has seen the greatest number of measles cases reported in the US since 1992, and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000.

Of those diagnosed with measles, approximately 10% have required hospitalization. The majority of cases are among people who were not vaccinated.

“It is deeply concerning to see vaccine-preventable infectious diseases such as measles or mumps reemerging in the US and impacting the health of individuals and entire communities,” Marks added. “As a public health agency, we want to reiterate our confidence in the safety and efficacy of the MMR vaccine. … The evidence fully supports the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine.”

More information about the MMR vaccine is available on the FDA’s website.