Measles Cases Hit 275, Rockland Offers Free Vaccinations Again

NEW CITY, NY — Rockland County's eight-month measles outbreak has now reached 275 confirmed cases, health officials announced Wednesday. Two new vaccine clinics are scheduled for Friday and Sunday.

County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert urged unvaccinated residents to get a free measles, mumps, rubella vaccine on:

• June 21, from 10 am - 12 pm at Congregation Ohaiv Yisroel of Blueberry Hill, located at 30 Blueberry Hill Road, Monsey, NY 10952
• June 23, from 10 am - 12 pm at the Pascack Community Center, located at 87 New Clarkstown Road, Nanuet, NY 10954

Rockland's measles cases are at the forefront of a nationwide outbreak. So far in 2019, 1,044 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 28 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control. This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1992 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000, the CDC said.

Most of the nation's cases have been due to international travelers visiting or returning with the virus. Most of the nation's cases have been in New York. As of June 17 there have been 596 reported cases in Brooklyn and Queens since that outbreak began in the fall. Rockland officials said they know there have been far more cases in the county than the 275 reported.

As in New York City, Rockland's measles outbreak has been centered in the Ultra Orthodox Jewish community, mostly in Monsey, New Square and Spring Valley.

Ultra-Orthodox rabbis generally have no religious objections to vaccines and have urged their followers to get inoculated. But the "anti-vaxxer" movement has made inroads among the ultra-Orthodox, even though they have little exposure to the internet.

SEE: Measles Outbreak: Reaching Hasidic Moms Afraid Of Vaccines

SEE: New York Ends Religious Exemptions For Measles

Plus, county health officials pointed out, due to Rockland's small geographic size, exposure to the measles may occur anywhere in in the county.

Since the outbreak began, the Rockland Health Department together with partners such as Refuah Health Center and private pediatricians and family doctors have administered over 23,000 doses of MMR vaccine.

"Being up-to-date with your measles vaccination is the best way to help protect yourself, your family, and the community, especially those who cannot get vaccinated because they are too young or have specific health conditions. As camp season rapidly approaches and with the recent legislation ending non-medical exemptions to vaccination, we are offering multiple opportunities for residents to get free MMR vaccinations," said Dr. Ruppert.

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses on earth; 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to the virus become infected. You can catch measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, up to 2 hours after that person is gone. You can catch measles from an infected person even before they have a measles rash.

Rockland continues to make it easy for more people to protect themselves.

Free MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccines are also available at the Rockland County Department of Health, Building A, second floor clinic area, located at 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona at the following dates and times. No appointments are needed.

• Monday, June 24 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
• Tuesday, June 25 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
• Wednesday, June 26 from 9:00 am -11:30 am
• Thursdays, June 20, and June 27 from 9:00 am - 11:30 am
• Fridays, June 21 and June 28 from 9:00 am -11:30 am

If you are ill with a fever, rash, or conjunctivitis (red watery eyes), please help protect our community - stay home, do not have visitors, and do not go out in public. If you have symptoms consistent with measles, contact your health care provider, a local clinic, or a local emergency department before going for care. This will help prevent others at these facilities from being exposed to the illness.

"We are making progress against this dangerous disease, but we urge everyone to follow the Health Department's advice; get vaccinated against the measles, and if you are sick with measles stay home. This outbreak is still a public health emergency and we need the entire community's help to end it," said County Executive Ed Day.