Tag Archives: vaccines

Protecting Our Community from Measles: It Starts Here

At Maryland Primary Care Physicians, we believe that caring for our patients means caring for the communities they belong to. When one person stays healthy, we all benefit, and when someone is at risk, it’s our responsibility to help protect them.

The Maryland Department of Health has confirmed multiple cases of measles in Maryland. While this may feel like a distant concern to some, we see it differently. As physicians, we understand how quickly this illness can spread, and as members of the community, we know how deeply prevention matters.

This is about more than avoiding an illness, it’s about protecting the people around us. And as we observe National Public Health Week, we want to remind you that public health starts right here. With you. With us. Together.

Why Measles Deserves Our Attention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if one person has measles, up to 90% of unvaccinated people who come into close contact will also become infected. The virus spreads through the air and can linger in a room for up to two hours after an infected person has left.

Symptoms usually begin 7 to 14 days after exposure. Early signs include:

  • High fever (often over 104°F)
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Red, watery eyes

A few days later, a red rash starts on the face and spreads downward across the body.

While most people recover, measles can lead to serious health complications. These include pneumonia, brain swelling, and in some cases, death—especially in young children and those with weakened immune systems. As Johns Hopkins Medicine explains, measles can still be dangerous even with modern medical care. The virus is not gone. It’s just kept in check through vaccination.

Vaccination Is the Best Protection

The MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles. It is safe, widely available, and incredibly effective. 

According to the University of Chicago Medicine, two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles. The vaccine also protects against mumps and rubella.

Here’s what we recommend:

  • Children should receive their first vaccination between 12 and 15 months of age
  • A second dose is given between 4 and 6 years old
  • Adults who missed one or both doses or who are unsure of their status should speak with a provider
  • International travelers and healthcare workers may require additional protection

Vaccination is not just a personal decision. It is a public service. It protects newborns who are too young for vaccines. It shields those going through chemotherapy or living with chronic illness. It helps build a stronger, healthier community for everyone.

Why This Matters to MPCP

Maryland Primary Care Physicians is a doctor-led organization with strong roots in the communities we serve. We are not just here to treat illness. We are here to build relationships, provide trusted information, and help you make decisions that support your health and the well-being of others.

Many of our physicians live in the same communities where they practice. That connection drives our mission. It also informs our approach. We know that public health starts at the local level—in schools, churches, workplaces, and yes, right here in your doctor’s office.

As we recognize National Public Health Week, we want to underscore what this year’s theme—It Starts Here—really means. It means:

  • It starts in conversations between you and your provider
  • It starts with the decisions you make for your family
  • It starts with our shared commitment to care

Let’s Take Action Together

If you need to check your vaccine records or schedule a catch-up dose, we are here for you. Talk to your provider. Book a visit. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.

It all adds up. It all matters.

It starts here.

Do We Really Need Seasonal Vaccines?

A Q&A with Dr. Janice Rutkowski

Q: If I haven’t gotten the flu vaccine, isn’t it too late?

A: In Maryland, the flu season extends from December to May, so it is still important to get the vaccine. The flu can be very severe with symptoms that include headache, body ache, fever up to 105 degrees, coughing and sore throat. It can be extremely serious in the very young and very old. To lessen your chance of getting the flu, the Centers for Disease Control suggests that all patients over six months of age get the vaccine.

Q: Can’t the vaccine actually give you the flu?

A: No. Less than 1% if people getting the vaccine will have “flu-like” symptoms from it. If you’ve ever had an anaphylactic reaction to chicken eggs or prior flu vaccines, or have moderate or severe illness with a fever over 102 degrees, then the vaccine isn’t recommended. But most people tolerate it very well.

Q: Are there other vaccines you suggest at this time of year?

A: Yes, for adults over age 50, I recommend they consider the shingles vaccine. Also, if you’re over 65, are a smoker, or suffer from adult asthma or heart/lung disease, I suggest a pneumonia vaccine.

Q: Why a shingles vaccine?

A: Shingles is a very painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chicken pox; it can lie dormant in our bodies and reappear at times of stress or when our immune system is weakened. The vaccine is available for those over 50 and recommended strongly for those over 60. It reduces the risk of getting shingles by 51% and shows a 66% decrease in pain following an infection. As always, talk to your personal doctor about these vaccinations.

Janice Rutkowski, M.D.Dr. Janice Rutkowski is a board certified Internal Medicine specialist and MPCP partner. She received her medical degree from the University of Limoges and completed her residency program in Internal Medicine at Maryland General Hospital in 1984.