“I think the concern that we have as physicians is with decreasing immunization rates is that we are set up to potentially have the spread of the measles virus, something that we haven't seen in many years.”
Dr. Todd Chassee, Medical Director at RightCare Clinic in Grand Rapids, notes there are worries anti-vaccine sentiment, strengthened by the coronavirus pandemic, is playing a part in the current measles flare up with cases reported in 10 states since the beginning of 2025 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The highly infectious disease is particularly dangerous to children leading to pneumonia, encephalitis and - less commonly - death, as in the case of an unvaccinated child in Texas last week.
Chassee notes the best way to protect against the disease is to get the measles-mumps-rubella or MMR vaccine.
“It's not something that you need boosters. Once you've completed the series of vaccines, which is two doses, you have lifelong protection so it's a great vaccine that's been around for a long time and we definitely endorse and support its use.”
Michigan has not reported a measles case this year, according to the state’s health department, but there were six cases in 2024 spread across the state.
