In the past five years, Alaska received an average of <1 mumps case report per year. Starting in August 2017, there has been an increase in mumps activity in Anchorage. To date, 247 confirmed and probable cases, 214 and 33, respectively and it shows no sign of slowing.
This has prompted Alaska health officials to provide updated guidance for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine during the current mumps outbreak.
Updated Vaccination Recommendations:
- Health care providers should ensure that all patients are up-to-date on their MMR vaccination per the routine Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) schedule. Two doses of MMR vaccine should be routinely administered to all children, starting with the first dose at age 12 through 15 months and the second dose at age 4 through 6 years before school entry. For persons who have received only one dose of MMR, a second dose should be given to all school-age children aged ≥4 years and select adults born during or after 1957 who are at high risk of mumps exposure (i.e., healthcare personnel, international travelers, and students at post-high school educational institutions).
- For persons who participate in any group setting (e.g., daycare, work, school, church) statewide where mumps is currently circulating (e.g., a recent case in a classmate or a coworker) OR for Anchorage residents who self-identify as being Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: A second dose of MMR is recommended for persons who have had one dose of MMR that was administered at least 4 weeks ago; this includes children aged 1–4 years. A third dose of MMR is recommended for persons who have had a second dose that was administered at least 5 years ago.
Any Alaska resident who would like additional protection against mumps during the current outbreak, regardless of where they live in Alaska, is now eligible to receive a third dose of the MMR vaccine.
Visit myLABBox.com for easy, convenient and fast screening solutions for prevalent STDs, all in the privacy of your own home.
