The measles outbreak triggers a sharp increase in demand for vaccines

February 12, 2019

More than 50 confirmed cases of measles, 11 suspected cases have been reported in Clark County, Washington, this year.

HealthDay News – Clinics in Clark County, Washington State, are striving to respond to the surge in demand for measles immunization as people seek protection during an outbreak highly contagious virus.

Data from the state's Department of Health show that orders for 2 types of measles vaccines in the county were almost 500% higher in January than the same month last year, rising from 530 doses at 3 150, Kaiser Health News reported. One facility, the Vancouver Clinic, reported giving 1,444 measles vaccines in January, up from 263 last January – an increase of almost 450%.

There have been more than 50 confirmed cases of measles and 11 suspected cases in Clark County this year. Only 76.5% of nursery school children in the county have received all the required immunizations for the 2017-2018 school year, and health officials have long been concerned about the risk of the epidemic. In the region. At the statewide level, measles vaccine orders increased by about 30% in January compared to the same month last year, from 12,140 to 15,780. doses, according to the data. Kaiser reported.

The measles epidemic in the Pacific Northwest also includes a confirmed case in King County, where Seattle is located, and four in Multnomah County, which includes Portland, Oregon. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Washington and Oregon are among the 17 states that allow non-medical exemptions from vaccination requirements for entry to school. A measure introduced by Washington State Representative Paul Harris (R-Vancouver) would remove exemptions from personal beliefs relating to measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, Kaiser reported.

Kaiser Health News article