The CDC says there have been more than 100 cases of the measles this year. Doctors say it's spreading mostly among people who haven't been vaccinated.
One teen is making headlines for going against his parents and getting vaccinated.
It all started with a post on Reddit by 18-year-old Ethan Lindenberger, who was looking for advice on how to get vaccinated. He wrote his parents think vaccines are "some kind of government scheme" and said because of their beliefs, he'd "never been vaccinated for anything, God knows how I’m still alive."
Other teens have been turning to social media with questions about providing their own consent to get vaccines, as measles and mumps cases growing across the country.
When people get both doses of the measles vaccine, experts say it's 97 percent effective.
“Most parents who choose not to vaccinate their children do so after many, many hours of in-depth research,” says Phil Silberman with Colorado Health Choice Alliance.
Silberman leads a vaccine choice group. Although he has chosen not to vaccinate his children, he believes everyone should have a choice on whether they use medical products or not and should do thorough research before making a decision.
According to the Washington Post, Lindenberger received vaccines for Hepatitis A and B, influenza, and HPV. He says his relationship with his parents about vaccinations has improved.
“It's now in a great spot. My parents are very happy that I am continuing to express that the importance of vaccines is beyond just me and other people, and I’m glad to share that story,” the teen says.
