00:04 - The following program is sponsored in part by Customers Bank.

00:13 - We're joined today by Representative Arvind Venkit. Pennsylvania is seeing an

00:17 - increased number of measles cases. Can you explain the significance of this?

00:23 - Polls is the most contagious infectious

00:26 - disease that we really know of, and it has the

00:30 - potential to be very serious. Thankfully, it's very preventable.

00:34 - What we're seeing in Pennsylvania,

00:36 - unfortunately, is a rapid spread of this infectious

00:40 - disease among those who are unvaccinated,

00:44 - either by choice or because they cannot receive the vaccine.

00:48 - And as a result, we're seeing rising

00:51 - numbers of individuals with this disease, rising

00:54 - numbers of hospitalizations, and potentially

00:56 - serious complications, including the two cases

00:59 - identified by the Department of Health as individuals

01:03 - who may have died for measles. Are there parts

01:06 - of the state seeing more positive cases than

01:08 - other parts of the state? Yes, it seems to be

01:12 - concentrated in the southeast part of the state.

01:15 - Lancaster County is, unfortunately, the real

01:18 - center of the outbreak, but we're seeing cases

01:22 - across Pennsylvania, where I am in Allegheny County.

01:24 - There was an identified case in Butler County.

01:27 - There was an identified case. And so, unfortunately,

01:31 - the disease, as can be expected, is spreading very quickly.

01:35 - Now, what is Pennsylvania's history with fighting measles? Well, we had largely

01:42 - eliminated measles within Pennsylvania.

01:46 - The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is 97% effective

01:50 - for delivering lifelong immunity.

01:53 - And so, Pennsylvania and the United States had reached what's

01:58 - called elimination status for measles as recently

02:02 - as the early 2000s. Unfortunately, because of

02:06 - widespread disinformation about vaccines, we're

02:10 - seeing less uptake of vaccines. And as a result,

02:13 - the rapid spread of measles and potentially other

02:17 - vaccine-preventable diseases. We have not had

02:20 - any deaths attributed to measles in 35 years.

02:24 - These two cases, as put forward by the Department

02:28 - of Health, would seem to be the first in

02:31 - that time period. How are measles spread from

02:35 - person to person? So, it's spread through respiratory droplets, coughing, sneezing.

02:43 - The issue with measles, though, is that it survives

02:46 - in the air and on surfaces for prolonged periods of time.

02:49 - And so, if I had measles and I coughed in a room, and I left the room, the measles

02:56 - virus would linger for up to two hours.

02:58 - And so, someone else or others who came into the room

03:02 - could very quickly end up with the disease if they're not protected already.

03:08 - Now, what are some telltale symptoms of measles

03:10 - that somebody may have who've been infected?

03:14 - So, typically, we see rash and fever, but

03:16 - serious complications can include dehydration,

03:20 - pneumonia, swelling of the brain, which can cause alterations in mental status,

03:27 - and people with measles can also have a depletion

03:30 - of their immune system, what's called immune amnesia.

03:33 - And so, even when they recover from

03:35 - measles, they are susceptible to other infectious diseases.

03:38 - And for those small percentage of individuals who may die related to measles,

03:45 - it's usually due to secondary infections.

03:47 - What ways can people keep themselves safe from measles?

03:53 - The only safe and effective way to prevent having measles is to receive the measles

03:59 - mumps and rubella vaccine in two doses as most individuals have received if eligible.

04:08 - And it's been around since the early 1960s and is extraordinarily safe and effective.

04:14 - Like I said, 97% effectiveness for giving

04:17 - lifelong immunity without having the disease.

04:21 - The tragedy, though, is that there are individuals

04:24 - who've decided not to receive the vaccine,

04:27 - even though they are eligible, which makes themselves

04:29 - vulnerable and their communities vulnerable.

04:32 - But also, there are individuals who might want to receive the vaccine that cannot.

04:37 - That includes individuals who are pregnant, those

04:40 - with certain cancers, those who are immunosuppressed.

04:44 - But the good news is that if enough people in a community receive the measles mumps

04:49 - and rubella vaccine, that community spread is not possible. And so, both those who are

04:56 - unvaccinated by choice or not are also protected.

05:00 - Unfortunately, we're seeing levels drop in vaccination.

05:04 - And as a result, we're seeing rapid spread of the disease.

05:08 - Lastly, you are a physician as well as a lawmaker. What can the state legislature do

05:14 - to protect their constituents from things like the measles?

05:18 - There are a few things. We in the state house

05:21 - have passed two pieces of legislation to protect

05:25 - insurance coverage and pharmacy access of vaccines. That became necessary because of

05:32 - really outlandish changes at the federal level.

05:35 - It was always assumed that the federal government

05:38 - would protect vaccine insurance coverage and access.

05:41 - That is no longer the case under this administration.

05:44 - And so, as a result, we did act.

05:46 - Unfortunately, those bills are sitting in our state Senate.

05:50 - And so, we need to pass those two pieces of legislation. The other part is,

05:56 - is public messaging. You know, every elected

05:59 - official and every candidate for elected office in

06:03 - Pennsylvania needs to answer this question.

06:06 - What is your way to stop this outbreak of a highly

06:10 - infectious, serious, and preventable disease?

06:13 - The one safe and effective way is for everyone

06:16 - who is eligible to receive the measles, mumps, and

06:20 - rubella vaccine. The way that we are unfortunately

06:23 - seeing now is the rapid spread of the disease

06:26 - among the unvaccinated, whether by choice or not.

06:31 - And the result are hospitalizations.

06:33 - And inevitably, a small but significant percentage of

06:36 - individuals who will have serious complications,

06:40 - including possibly dying. My answer, and I know that

06:44 - of any thoughtful elected official and candidate,

06:48 - is to urge our communities to step forward and

06:51 - receive the vaccine if they have not already.

06:54 - Representative Arvin Venkit, thank you for joining us.

06:58 - Thank you.

07:14 - [Music]