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Doctors Stress Importance Of Measles Vaccine While Some Parents Resist

(CBS) -- The measles outbreak has hit Illinois, with one confirmed case. Despite what some may think, doctors say measles can be dangerous, so now, is a good time to protect yourself.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports not everyone is on board with that.

Two-year-old Gavin Focht's Mom decides when to play, when to nap, when to eat. She and her husband also decided not to vaccinate their kids.

"After doing more research, we just felt for our family, the risks outweighed the benefits," Ashley Focht.

Vaccinations are back in the spotlight because of the U.S. measles outbreak. Now that Illinois has its first case, most doctors are again stressing the importance of measles vaccination protection for children and adults.

"Checking your records, finding out if you have a documented record of vaccination is important. If there's a doubt, go to a physician and get an antibody level done, it is a very simple test," said Dr. Andrew Bonwit with Loyola Medical Center.

Dr. Bonwit says it's a mistake to dismiss potential measles dangers. One in one thousand cases, he says, can lead to encephalitis, a potentially deadly inflammation of the brain.

"One in a thousand risk of encephalitis and serious permanent injury or even death is much, much, much greater than a risk than of one in a million which is an estimated of something serious happening with the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine," said Dr. Bonwit.

Focht says she's aware of that risk but is comfortable with her research and her family's decision.

"It's not a decision we made based in fear and it is not one that we'll change based on fear, either," she said.

Doctor Bonwit says unprotected adults can easily get an MMR booster and if you've already had the vaccine or the measles, you should not be at risk again.

If you have questions about the measles, join CBS 2 Thursday morning from 5 to 7 when we'll host a live web chat with a UIC pediatric doctor. You can send in your questions to our Facebook page or tweet them to us @cbschicago and she will answer them on the air.

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