On the heels of measles cases popping up in North Dakota, local health officials stress the importance and safety of immunizations for young children.

The state Health and Human Services Department said the batch of new cases in Williams County all involve children who were unvaccinated. Measles is mostly common in kids who have not received their measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the disease is highly contagious, causing symptoms like fever, rash and a cough, with possible serious side effects including brain damage.

Lisa Edholm-Moch, administrator of Emmons County Public Health, warned parents still leery of scheduling a shot for their child.

“A lot of people think the disease is going to be a piece of cake, but kids will get sick,” Edholm-Moch said. “Forty percent of infected people will end up in the hospital. Some may have long-lasting health issues.”

Health leaders said they understand people’s personal and religious beliefs but confirmed the measles vaccine has a good track record. Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, with officials crediting a strong immunization program. But skepticism has pushed vaccination rates lower. North Dakota’s cases follow bigger outbreaks in states like Texas, where deaths have been reported.

Edholm-Moch acknowledged vaccination rates are not where they should be in her county. She feels misinformation is getting in the way of relaying accurate messages to parents. For families who want to learn more, especially those with newborns, she noted there’s a key timeline to follow.

“The first measles vaccination is mumps, measles and rubella, and that should be given after they’re 12 months old,” Edholm-Moch said. “It’s repeated again after age four – between ages four and six – about the time they’re ready to start kindergarten.”

She added even if children do not get the second dose, they still have protection from the first but the follow-up is recommended. When a local outbreak does occur, Edholm-Moch pointed out babies can be vaccinated a little sooner, before their first birthday. The CDC said common, temporary side effects of receiving the MMR vaccine include a sore arm or fever. They have been linked to certain types of seizures but experts said the risk is small and has no long-term effects.