COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Following last Friday’s announcement by the Jackson County Health Department of a possible measles exposure at Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital on March 10, the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is again urging all residents in Branch, Hillsdale, and St. Joseph counties who are not vaccinated to get the vaccine.
If they are unsure if they have been vaccinated, you can check your record, or your child’s vaccine record, by contacting your local health department office, or checking online at https://mcir.org.
Community Health Agency Medical Director Doctor Karen Luparello says, “Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact, and through the air. The measles virus can stay in the air, and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area.”
She added, “Measles is so contagious that ninety percent of unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles will become infected. Infected people can be contagious up to 4 days before the rash appears, which increases the possibility of exposing others without knowing.”
Most cases of measles in the United States today, are occurring among individuals with a recent history of international travel.
Children and adults can get vaccinations at any of the Community Health Agency offices, their primary care provider, or many local pharmacies.
The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency can offer vaccines to qualifying families with children age 18 or younger through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.
Comments