This is not the best of times for Jennifer and Dave Simon, and they are taking out their anger on the parents of an unvaccinated child that probably infected their little child, Livia, with the dreaded measles epidemic.
Baby Livia is now isolated for nearly a month inside their home because she had contracted measles from some careless or pitiless parents who would not vaccinate their own children. And this is the ax that the Simons have to grind with people who care little about measles vaccination. Now, they are skipping work and have to bring in Jennifer’s mother from Houston to sit with the baby.
On January 2, the Simons had taken Livia to the pediatrician because she had cold. The doctor’s office called them two days later to inform them a child with measles had been in the office that same day. And now, the Simons knew they were in for trouble.
One of the most contagious viruses on Earth, measles can hang in the air or on surfaces for hours. If she’d contracted the disease, Livia could become deaf or even die.
“We were really freaking out and really worried,” Jennifer Simon said.
According to the doctors, the child that came in earlier had measles because his parents refused to vaccinate him. And now, Livia can’t be vaccinated to ensure she is protected because she is only 6 months old.
“I’m angry,” Simon said. “I’ve been upset that someone else’s personal choice has impacted us so much.”
Now, nine children have been placed in Alameda County where the Simons live because of the outbreak of measles in the area.
“Their choice endangered my child,” Jennifer said of parents that refuse to vaccinate their children.
Jennifer hates the idea of “herd immunity” which unvaccinated parents are exploring: getting immune protection from those who are vaccinated even though you remain unvaccinated.
“You’re basically relying on society but not giving back,” she said.
But it is okay. Livia’s quarantine ends on Friday and she has not really been sick despite the measles infection.