Date of Award

4-2015

Document Type

Independent Study

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

Measles, a vaccine preventable, highly contagious infectious disease was once considered eradicated from the U.S. (Kutty et al., 2014). However, measles outbreaks have recently reacted in the U.S. even despite the preventable vaccine and school entry laws. As evidenced by research, non-medical exemptions coupled with measles endemics worldwide have contributed to the recent U.S. measles outbreaks (Gustanaduy et al., 2014; Wang, Clymer, DavisHayes, & Bettelheim, 2014; and World Health Organization, 2015). Even though compulsory vaccination may seem like an answer to decrease non-medical exemptions research has shown it could do more harm than good (Ell iman & Bedford, 2013; Doshi & Akabayashi, 20 l O; Shan, 2011; and Wang et al., 2014). In conclusion, advance practice registered nurses (APRNs) as primary care providers need to be educated on measles, the complications, populations at high risk for declining measles vaccination, and populations at high risk for becoming infected with measles in order to help decrease current outbreaks. The case discussed in this paper of an unvaccinated nine-year-old female who contracted measles is a good example of what an APRN may encounter in practice. As a result a literature review was conducted using CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Google databases. Searches included variations of the tem1s "immunization and law," "compulsory vaccination," "measles," "measles vaccination," and "measles morbidity and mortality." The search was limited to articles written in English and those dated 2005 or more recent and included articles from various countries

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