Allegheny County Ramps Up Measles Battle, Offers Free Vaccines

PITTSBURGH, PA - With five recent measles cases recently confirmed in the Pittsburgh area, thee Allegheny County Health Department will provide a measles vaccination clinic on Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Homewood-Brushton YMCA on Bennett street.

The health department will have a limited supply of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine
available, and individuals will be vaccinated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those that wish to be vaccinated must sign an intake form and consent form prior to receiving the free vaccine.

If someone can't make it to the clinic on May 8, the health department ecommends that any person who is due for measles vaccination schedule an appointment to receive it from their
medical provider or to the health department's immunization clinic, located at 425 First Avenue, Fourth Floor, Downtown. Clinic hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 .m. to 4 p.m. and on Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

One dose of the MMR vaccine is 93 percent effective and two doses are 97 percent effective. The Centers for Disease Control and PRevention's vaccination recommendations include:

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• Children 12 months or older should have two doses, the first at age 12-15 months and a second dose between 4-6 years.

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• Healthcare personnel, college students, and international travelers should have two doses of MMR.

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• Adults born during or after 1957 should have at least one dose of MMR or documented evidence of disease. Adults born before 1957 are considered immune.

• ·For international travel, infants 6-11 months should have one dose of MMR, and children 12 months of age and older should receive 2 doses of MMR, separated by at least 28 days.