Measles cases rise in the US; Bay Area officials urge vaccination, highlighting the importance of the MMR vaccine in light of recent deaths and Texas outbreak.

The health departments from all Bay Area counties urged people to get vaccinated against measles because of rising cases across the country.

Bay Area health officials came together Friday to urge residents in the region to get a measles vaccination if they never received one or if they avoided the disease as a child. In a statement, the Association of Health Officials said it was making the recommendation because measles cases are rising in the United States.

Bay Area health leaders are encouraging everyone to check if they got the measles vaccine or to visit their doctor and receive the shot if they are unsure. The recommendations comes after the United States has seen a sharp rise in measles cases with 320 cases across the country as of Friday morning.