Those wondering about the necessity of strong vaccine requirements should take a look at news out of Ashtabula County that this year’s first case of measles has been reported in Ohio.

“The fact that we now have a measles case in Ohio adds emphasis to the importance of being fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the state health department.

“This disease can be very serious, but it is preventable. I strongly encourage you to protect yourselves and your children by getting vaccinated.”

The Ashtabula County case was an adult — an unvaccinated man who had contact with someone who traveled abroad. That’s a problem because decreasing vaccination rates mean everyone is more vulnerable.

In one community — Sandusky, in Erie County — the health department has warned vaccination numbers are too low to prevent an outbreak.

“Due to the contagious nature of measles, it is estimated that 95% of the population will need to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population has become immune to an infection through either vaccinations or having the infection itself,” said Taylor Kula, who runs epidemiology efforts for the Erie County Health Department.

Measles is deadly. Texas is in the midst of an outbreak that has affected 279 people — 36 of whom have been hospitalized. One person — an unvaccinated child — has died.

And measles is not the only deadly disease for which effective vaccines are available — and to which fear-based conspiracy theories and refusal to listen to facts have made us as a population more vulnerable.

Vanderhoff is right. If you’ve been on the fence, let this news serve as inspiration to protect your kids, yourself and your family.