Measles cases in the US are three times higher than last year. Doctors say vaccines can help.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Federal health officials are refresh warnings about the increasing number of measles cases and encouraging parents to give their children the recommended vaccinations before school starts.

Outbreaks of measles have increased significantly, according to figures from the CDC. CDC officials say this is because there is a decline in vaccinationswhich they believe are the best way to keep communities safe and free from potentially deadly diseases.

Parents like Erica Grandpre want the best for their children.

“We are the only defense of our young people against everything in the world. Introducing them to all that is good and protecting them from all that is dangerous,” Grandpre said.

Now she is worried about the measles.

“I’ve been reading about it in the news for the last few years,” Grandpre said. “Every time you think, really? I thought this was over. I thought this was a thing of the past.”

This year, more than 200 cases of measles have been reported across the country, including in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

That is more than three times the number of cases reported last year.

Most cases are in children under 5 years of age who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. There was a measles outbreak in philadelphia in December and January linked to an unvaccinated baby who traveled internationally. The cases spread to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and then to a daycare center. That outbreak was declared over in February.

“We’re seeing more cases of measles,” said CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen. “And that’s because measles is very contagious. It’s one of the most contagious viruses out there. But we have a way to protect ourselves, right? We want to make sure that everyone gets their vaccination.”

New data from the CDC shows that among children born between 1994 and 2023, about 500 million cases of illness were prevented, along with 32 million hospitalizations and more than a million deaths — all avoided by routine childhood vaccinations.

Cohen says some children fell behind on vaccinations during the pandemic, but many are now catching up.

“I’m traveling around the country reminding people that before they go back to school, make sure their kids have their measles vaccination, as well as polio and others,” Cohen said. “It’s our best defense against some of these serious diseases.”