None of them were vaccinated

Four sick children are hospitalized with measles

Measles can be particularly dangerous for small children (symbolic image)

(Bild: Aleksandr - stock.adobe.com)

The children's hospital is alarmed: In the past few weeks, four children have had to be hospitalized due to measles infection or the serious complications associated with it, one of them even in intensive care. All four children had not been vaccinated.

"The young patients were dependent on oxygen and respiratory support because the measles had caused them to develop pneumonia," explains Ariane Biebl, an expert in infectious diseases at the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Kepler University Hospital. "As the children were drinking very little and had a high temperature, intravenous fluids were also necessary."

Senior physician Ariane Biebl from the pediatric clinic in Linz

(Bild: Mathias Lauringer)

"We urgently appeal to all parents!"
According to the expert, all of this could have been avoided with a vaccination. "Unfortunately, none of the four hospitalized children were vaccinated. We therefore urgently appeal to all parents to actually take advantage of the vaccinations provided for in the Austrian vaccination schedule. These recommendations are designed to spare children a great deal of suffering and at the same time - if the vaccination coverage rate is high enough - help to 'eradicate' certain serious diseases," says Biebl.