Measles: Vaccine available today at Palisades Center

Rockland/Westchester Journal News

Health officials Tuesdaywill be giving out free measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccines to residents at the Palisades Center.

There are currently 91 measles cases in the county and eight under investigation, and officials said the Best Buy at the Palisades Center was one of the sites recently visited by a measles infected person.

The clinic will run from 3 to 6 p.m. inside near Bed, Bath & Beyond on the first floor of the west court, closest to parking lot A.

The Refuah Health Center in Spring Valley.

Who should get the vaccine?

The vaccine is offered to any resident over the age of 6 months who is not yet immunized. The measles vaccine is 97 percent effective after two doses and 93 percent effective after one dose. There is a small chance during an outbreak that a vaccinated person will catch measles, but it will likely be a less severe case and much less likely to spread to others, officials said.

Am I immune?

People are considered immune or protected if:

  • They have had two doses of the MMR vaccine.
  • They had a physician or provider confirm measles.
  • They had a lab test confirming immunity.
  • They were born before 1957.

What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people. Symptoms include rash, fever, runny nose, red watery eyes and a cough. People are considered contagious from four days before to four days after the rash appears, and symptoms usually appear 10 to 12 days after exposure, but could appear as early as 7 days or as late as 21 days after exposure.

Measles can stay in a room up to two hours after an infected person visited and can be extremely dangerous, especially for young children, pregnant women and those who are immuno-compromised because of disease. It can lead to pneumonia, brain damage, deafness and death. About one in every four people with measles will be hospitalized.

How did this outbreak occur?

This outbreak, the biggest in New York in decades, was traced to Israel, where over 1,500 people are affected, with at least one pediatric death. Hospitalizations have also occurred in the county, according to health officials. Anyone with symptoms is asked to stay home, avoid visitors and contact their health care provider or local clinic or emergency room before going in to protect other people.

What if I suspect a case of measles?

Health care providers can report all cases of suspected measles to the Rockland County Department of Health Communicable Disease Program at 845-364-2997 during the week or at 845-364-8600 after hours and weekends.

Residents can get more information at the county Department of Health website or by calling the state’s measles information line at 888-364-4837.

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