UTTC Tribal Leader Summit: ‘Protect Our People’ session warns about highly infectious measles

U.S. measles cases have surged to the highest level in 33 years. According to the CDC, 1,431 cases have been reported this year. That’s why health specialists from the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board spoke at the UTTC Tribal Leaders Summit about the importance of vaccinations.

Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus. Sarah Shewbrooks, data coordinating unit director and lead epidemiologist on the board, said that one out of five people who contract measles will be hospitalized. The virus is especially dangerous for children — one out of 20 with measles will get pneumonia, a leading cause of child death.

There’s no cure, but the measles vaccine is 93% effective after one dose and 97% after two.

“You don’t get vaccines better than this,” said Shewbrooks.

Tinka Duran, citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and senior director of the Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center, acknowledged tribal communities’ long history of distrust in vaccinations and Western medicine, which contributes to lower vaccination rates on reservations.

That’s why it’s important for tribal communities to hear about the importance of vaccinations from people they trust, said Shewbrooks.

“This isn’t going to come from me,” said Shewbrooks as she lifted her lanyard identifying her as a health specialist. “It’s got to come from tribal leaders.”