A novel research has unveiled that measles vaccine could be other benefits as well. By having the vaccine, one is not only preventing the disease, but it also helps body to fight other illnesses for years.

Measles weakens the immune system for weeks or months. Children are especially at increased risk to suffer from fatal infection by a number of germs. Now, the researchers have found that the weak period can continue much longer than though earlier, even up to three years.

Researchers said that the findings act as an alarm for parents who do not vaccinate their children owing to many fears like a link between vaccines and autism. The message is quite clear that the vaccine is safe and effective against measles. Also, the measles vaccine can help children remain protected from other infections.

Measles outbreak tied to Disneyland made 147 people ill in the US, including 131 in California. Infections also spread to Mexico and Canada where 159 people fell sick in Quebec. Measles symptoms include fever, cough, and rash.

For more than a decade, measles was eliminated from America. But outbreaks still take place when Americans or tourists become infected overseas and the spread the virus among people who are not vaccinated.

The researchers said that vaccinations can bring a decline in measles in all the countries. In America, deaths from infections like respiratory or diarrheal disease declined from 18 per 100,000 before vaccination to 6 per 100,000 after vaccination.

In fact, the researchers have stated that the introduction of the vaccine has brought a decline in disease rate. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and federal grants funded the study, which has been published in the journal Science.