The Center's for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted Thursday to stop recommending a combined shot for measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox for children under 4 years old. They are now advised to get two separate vaccines. The panel cited the reason for the change is a small risk of fever-induced seizures in toddlers who get the combination shot.

About eight in 10,000 children are at risk for seizures according to San Diego pediatrician Dr. Maya Kumar.

“This is still less than a tenth of a percent,” Kumar said. “I can't believe that they would take away a family's ability to conveniently give their kids one less shot because of this incredibly small risk.”

The risk measles poses is much greater, she said.

“If you compare the side effec

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