Cook County Public Health announced Monday they would be offering a free measles vaccination clinic this Friday (3/6) and next Tuesday (3/10) for individuals who may have been exposed to the contagious virus at select Palatine locations.
Image/CDC
The vaccination clinics will be held at the All Saints Lutheran Church on 630 South Quentin Road in Palatine on Friday 3/06/15 from 9am -3pm and Tuesday 3/10/15 from 11am -7pm.
Health officials say possible exposures may have occurred at the following Palatine locations: Customers and employees at the LaRosita Laundromat (1212 E. Dundee Rd. Palatine) on February 16, 2015 between 7:00 am and 12:30 pm; Patients and visitors at the Vista Health Center (1585 North Rand Road, Palatine) on February 19th between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m; and Visitors to any office or room in the Northwest Community Resource Center (1585 North Rand Road, Palatine) on February 19th between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Health officials believe that measles may still be circulating in the northwest suburban area. Any resident who does not know their measles vaccination status is eligible to receive free vaccine.
To date, there has been 14 confirmed measles cases in suburban Cook County, 12 of which are associated with the Palatine KinderCare daycare.
Cook County health officials say vaccination is critical to curbing the ongoing transmission of measles and it’s the best way to protect yourself and your family. Residents who have not received measles-containing vaccine should get a dose of MMR vaccine, a combination vaccine that provides protection against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Two doses of MMR vaccine are 99 percent effective in preventing measles. The first dose is recommended at 12-15 months of age and the second dose at 4-6 years of age.
The risk of contracting measles is low; however, we understand residents are concerned. Individuals who are unable to get vaccinated, and parents with children less than 12 months of age who are too young to be vaccinated, may want to consider limiting unnecessary visits to public places to reduce the risk of exposure to the measles.
