Up To 161 Measles Cases, Rockland Offers Free Vaccine Clinic

NEW CITY, NY — Rockland residents six months and older may get a free measles, mumps, rubella vaccine on Friday. The number of confirmed measles cases continues to grow as the county enters its second week of a State of Emergency.

Four more local cases have been reported since the beginning of April. The county's State of Emergency bans unvaccinated children from public places including schools, restaurants, stores and recreation centers.

The measles vaccination clinic will be held from 1 - 3 p.m. April 5 at the WIC office at 26 New Main St. in Haverstraw.

“With the measles outbreak continuing in Rockland County, now with 161 confirmed reported cases, the best way to help protect yourself and the community is to remain up-to-date with your measles vaccination,” said County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert.

The measles outbreak in New York City, also concentrated in the Ultra-Orthodox communities there, reached 214 confirmed cases March 27, according to the latest data from the NYC health department.

Since the outbreak in Rockland and NYC started in October, 17,654 MMR vaccinations have been given in the county, according to the New York State Health Department.

“That number has increased by almost 700 since we declared this State of Emergency," said County Executive Ed Day. "While these numbers are the most recent provided by the state they may not encompass the total given thus far. Doctors have up to 14 days to enter their numbers into the system, so the total is likely higher."

Free MMR vaccines are also available by calling:

• The Rockland County Department of Health at 845-364-2497 or 845-364-2520 to schedule an appointment to get a free MMR vaccine at the Pomona health complex.
• The Rockland County Department of Health Spring Valley Family Planning Clinic is also providing MMR vaccines, by appointment to Family Planning patients. Family Planning Clinic patients can call 845-364-2531 to schedule an appointment.

In addition, MMR vaccines are available at local health care providers or by calling a local federally qualified health center, such as Refuah or Hudson River Health Care. The federally qualified health centers see patients on a sliding fee scale and by appointment. They may require patients new to their centers to have a well visit first, before a vaccine can be given.

If you are ill with a fever, rash, or conjunctivitis (red watery eyes) – help protect our community by staying home, not having visitors, and not going out in public. To further prevent the spread of illness, the Department is advising individuals who have symptoms consistent with measles to contact their health care provider, a local clinic, or a local emergency department before going for care. This will help to prevent others at these facilities from being exposed to the illness.

The Health Department is asking all health care providers to immediately report all cases of suspect measles to the Rockland County Department of Health Communicable Disease Program staff by calling (845) 364-2997 during normal business hours, or (845) 364-8600 after hours/weekends. Health Care Providers can also call this number for additional information.

Residents can get more information about measles by visiting https://bit.ly/2zh4v1G and by calling the New York State Department of Health toll free Measles Information Line at (888) 364-4837. For more information about the County of Rockland’s State of Emergency visit www.rocklandgov.com.

SEE ALSO: More Public Measles Exposure In Rockland