My Son Was 1 Day Old When I Learned Our Family Had Been Exposed To Measles. Here’s What Happened Next.

As parents, we make hundreds of decisions on a daily basis — some inconsequential, others less so. We’re constantly weighing pros and cons, risks and benefits. In a world that feels more disconnected than ever — when we can bury our heads into our phones and surround ourselves with an echo chamber of conspiratorial ideas — it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. 

So let’s zoom out for a minute. In 1900, infectious diseases (such as pneumonia, influenza and measles) killed about 18% of children. Before vaccines and other public health measures, 1 in 5 children did not live to see their first birthday. 

Compare that reality to today, when less than 1% of children die before their fifth birthday. 

Back then, childhood was inherently dangerous. Even if they lived, those who became infected with a virus such as measles often suffered long-term side effects such as brain damage and a permanently weakened immune system. 

The success of public health measures such as vaccines has given people a false sense of security, leading many to conclude that once-tragic diseases are no longer a threat. But it’s only thanks to science that illness and death among children is no longer commonplace. 

Nowadays, it’s easy to take our health for granted — especially with anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. steering the narrative at the helm of the Department of Health and Human Services. We have the luxury of arguing over genetically modified organisms and artificial food colors and doubting the effectiveness of the very things that have kept us safe for the past half-century.

I won’t pretend to understand the various circumstances that might lead a parent not to vaccinate their child. 

But I do know that as parents (and human beings), we have a responsibility to protect all children. I’m reminded of a quote by author and activist Glennon Doyle who said, “There’s no such thing as other people’s children.” We have an obligation to protect those who cannot opt to protect themselves. This is why I keep my kids home when they’re sick, why I advocate for stricter gun laws and — yes — why I vaccinate my kids. 

Because measles is an airborne disease, one infected person can easily pass it on to 18 other people. To achieve herd immunity, 95% of the population must be fully vaccinated. Unfortunately, vaccination rates among children have continued to decline since the COVID-19 pandemic, with only 92.5% of kindergartners in the U.S. reportedly vaccinated against measles last year.   

Just this week, a school-aged child in California died due to a delayed measles-related complication known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). The child contracted the disease in infancy before they were eligible for vaccination. If infected, my newborn son could suffer the same fate.

I don’t want my kids — or anyone else’s — to become another preventable casualty. 

So, both of my daughters received their second MMR vaccine ahead of schedule. However, we still aren’t out of the woods, because measles symptoms can appear as late as 21 days after exposure. Additionally, about 5% of children who receive their second vaccine develop a measles-like rash and fever, so it can be difficult to determine whether they have the disease.

Now I’m left to wonder and stress about every little bump that surfaces on my daughters’ skin. And if one of them does develop symptoms, I’ll have to contact the Virginia Department of Health to get them tested, because I can’t bring them to the pediatrician and risk exposing other vulnerable children. 

I understand why many parents have grown to distrust medical institutions. I’ve also had my fair share of negative experiences that sometimes make me doubt doctors’ recommendations and interventions. 

But overall, I believe that people in helping professions (like medicine) have good intentions. The millions of doctors and organizations supporting and promoting vaccine use would not intentionally harm children. RFK, on the other hand, seems to change his opinion often to suit his political agenda.

Despite the fact that a link between vaccines and autism has been disproven over and over, RFK Jr. continues to spread lies and misinformation. He promised Americans that he would find a cause for the “autism epidemic” — a pursuit that won him support among many parents. However, with no formal medical or public health training, the secretary of health continues to undermine the scientific process by hiring incompetent individuals and misappropriating resources to maintain his base of support. For example, he recently employed a known pseudoscientist to uncover a link between vaccines and autism (which, as previously stated, studies have found does not exist).  

In light of recent threats to vaccine access, 34 scientific and medical organizations including the American Association of Immunologists and the American College of Physicians have come together to produce a statement reaffirming the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.   

With so many conspiracy theories circulating on the internet, it can be difficult to know who to trust. As a result, many parents fail to recognize the far-reaching implications of their choices. A once-standard public health measure has become politicized and exploited — and our children will suffer because of it. 

Mother Teresa said: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” 

The consequences of a decision like not vaccinating your child are not hypothetical. By now, hundreds of families in Virginia Beach like mine have been affected by one family’s choices. None of us live on an island, and our actions continue to ripple outward and affect others in unexpected ways. 

In this life, we have no choice but to rely on each other. As parents, we have the power to end preventable deaths by vaccinating our children. I hope the vaccine skeptics among us will find the strength to do what’s necessary to keep all of our children safe.  

This article originally appeared on HuffPost in September 2025.