Michigan health warning: Babies in these 7 counties need MMR vaccine
This article was posted by the Detroit Free Press. Read more here.
Babies in seven Michigan counties should get a dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine earlier than usually recommended to protect them from measles as the virus spreads through the southeastern portion of the state, according to a new recommendation from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
State health leaders issued the recommendation in early April, saying infants between the ages of 6 months and 11 months living in the following counties should get a dose of the MMR vaccine as soon as possible:
Washtenaw
Monroe
Wayne
Oakland
Jackson
Livingston
Lenawee County
The advisory also includes infants who live outside the seven counties but who visit Washtenaw or Monroe counties, where eight cases of the measles virus have been confirmed since March 11.
“Because people with measles can transmit the virus before they experience symptoms, we want to make sure we are protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities by recommending early vaccination for infants ages 6 through 11 months,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive, in a statement. “The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine remains our best defense, and two doses offers 97% protection against measles.”
The recommendation to accelerate the vaccination of infants in those seven Michigan counties will remain in effect until May 16, the state health department said, which is two incubation periods after the infectious period of the last identified measles case.
Wayne, Oakland, Jackson, Livingston and Lenawee counties were included in the vaccine recommendation because they are adjacent to Washtenaw and Monroe counties, said Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the state health department.
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These schedules list the age or age range when each vaccine or series of shots is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). If your child (birth through 6 years old) or adolescent (age 7 through 18 years old) has missed any shots, talk to your child’s doctor about getting back on track.
The Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR), is an immunization registry managed by MDHHS and reported to by immunization providers. MCIR allows healthcare providers or individuals to access their immunization records regardless of their location in Michigan. This system also helps to track local and state immunization rates of Michigan residents to ensure immunity to vaccine-preventable illnesses. MCIR is a lifespan registry that includes infant through adult records.
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