Childhood diseases return as parents refuse vaccines

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas - Health care providers report the biggest outbreak of measles they have seen in more than a decade.

Doctors diagnosed 152 cases so far this year.

Experts met in Overland Park Friday to debunk the most common vaccine myths.

Maggi Pivovar, a survivor of a vaccine preventable disease shared her life-changing story.

“In 2007 I woke up with what I thought was the flu. It was not the flu. It was a deadly bacterial illness called meningococcal meningitis,” she said.

Pivovar’s family rushed her to the emergency room where doctors delivered horrible news.

"I was given a 2 percent chance to survive and I had a very high risk of disability including blindness and deafness.”

Maggi Pivovar lived but doctors amputated her legs.

They told her the illness she suffered was preventable if she had vaccinated herself against it.

"I never knew that I needed to get this vaccine. I did not know this vaccine could save my life,” said Pivovar.

Over the last few years, doctors have seen outbreaks of many vaccine preventable diseases.

A report released this week from USA Today said 40 percent of parents deliberately skip or delay a shot for their children.

Doctors said that is a dangerous gamble.

“Some parents have chosen not to immunize their children. Because those children are not immunized, they are at risk for some of the diseases that we have been immunizing against for years,” said Dr. Darly Lynch with Children's Mercy Hospital.

Health care providers said vaccines are safe and protect your child’s future.