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Dear Colleagues,
CDC recently issued two letters to healthcare providers to share an update on the recent rise in measles cases and updated guidance:
- MMR Travel and Outbreak Recommendations
- Contains a summary of the current measles situation as well as measles vaccination recommendations – including for travel to outbreak affected areas, and links to measles resources.
- COCA Measles Message
- Highlights importance of identifying measles or exposures to measles and responding with actions to mitigate spread – isolating patients, notifying public health, collecting samples, and managing patients with supportive care.
We encourage healthcare providers to:
- Actively promote MMR vaccination and support patients in getting up to date.
- Increase opportunities for vaccination, including offering MMR vaccine during routine and acute visits.
- Reduce barriers to vaccination access, particularly for communities at higher risk for disease or complications.
The MMR Travel and Outbreak Recommendations contain guidance on MMR vaccination, including when to consider an early dose of MMR vaccine for infants aged 6–11 months. Please note that:
- No consultation with local or Tribal public health is needed if the early dose is related to travel — either domestic or international — to an area affected by an outbreak.
- Consultation with Local Health Jurisdictions is required if the early dose is not related to travel, unless public health has already recommended early vaccination in response to a local outbreak.
Please see the following resources for additional support:
For more information about vaccines, please contact the DOH Office of Immunization at 360-236-3595 or email oi@doh.wa.gov.
If you wish to report suspected outbreaks of measles or have questions about diagnosis or testing, please call 206-418-5500 or email vpd-cde@doh.wa.gov.
Responding to Measles Outbreaks in High Priority Populations Webinar is scheduled for April 15 at 2pm ET. Attendees will hear from states that responded to measles outbreaks in specific communities and learn tailored outreach efforts and strategies for measles surveillance that instill trust.
REGISTER HERE
The recording for the Measles Updates Webinar that occurred on April 2 is now available by creating an account in www.train.org/ or found on our immunization training web page. An account in TRAIN.org is required to obtain continuing education (CE) credits. The CE certificates can be automatically generated after completing an evaluation.
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