Even though the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine does a lot to protect people from the measles, and has been shown to be safe long-term, some people choose not to be vaccinated against the highly infectious, sometimes deadly disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all children get two doses of the MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years of age. Nationally, 91.9 percent of children aged 19 to 35 months have received the CDC-recommended dose of MMR.
However, some states have lower rates of MMR vaccination for children in the 19 to 35 month age group. The following 10 states have the lowest percentage of children aged 19 to 35 months who have received the recommend one dose of MMR, according to the CDC:
- Colorado: 86 percent
- West Virginia: 86 percent
- Ohio: 86 percent
- Montana: 87.3 percent
- Louisiana: 88.1 percent
- Arkansas: 88.3 percent
- Virginia: 88.6 percent
- Wyoming: 89 percent
- New Mexico: 89.1 percent
- Michigan: 89.2 percent
Most of the people who get measles are unvaccinated, and the illness can spread when it reaches parts of the U.S. where groups of people are unvaccinated.
Currently in the U.S., measles is making a comeback. In 2014, the nation experienced 23 outbreaks and 644 cases of measles, according to the CDC. This year, a large measles outbreak tied to the Disneyland theme park in California has led to more than 70 cases since mid-December.