PORT TOWNSEND — Tests of two Jefferson County people with suspected measles came back negative, said a county public health official Thursday.
“This data has been confirmed, so there are no reportable cases of measles in Jefferson County right now,” Lisa McKenzie, county communicative disease specialist, said Thursday.
McKenzie said the county public health clinic at 615 Sheridan St. in Port Townsend — which operates from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays — has seen an increase in people who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated against measles and requesting immunization in the past few weeks.
She had no figures on the increase.
The clinic can provide vaccinations on a walk-in basis.
Jefferson Healthcare hospital also is administering vaccinations at its walk-in clinic at 934 Sheridan St., according to Kate Burke, the hospital’s marketing director.
The hospital clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Vaccinations aren’t available for walk-ins. People must schedule them by calling 360-379-8031.
On Thursday, Burke said the clinic’s hours would be expanded to accommodate vaccination requests.
“We are encouraging parents to vaccinate any unvaccinated children,” she said.
A letter was distributed to parents in the four East Jefferson County school districts last week informing them of the clinic’s policy of offering vaccinations — which are provided for a small administrative charge — to all unvaccinated students.
If a case of measles is confirmed at any school, all unvaccinated students will be kept out of school for 21 days, according to both McKenzie and Jefferson Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Joe Mattern.
Those who believe they may be infected should not visit a clinic without calling ahead,
In a presentation to the hospital board Wednesday, Mattern said potentially infected patients should call ahead to their provider, who will then make arrangements for access that will avoid exposure to others.
Mattern said that once a confirmed measles patient visits a clinic, the facility must be closed off for two hours after departure.
While most of the vaccination discussion centers around children, there is a concern among adults, and the hospital clinic will be stocking increased numbers of adult vaccine, Mattern said.
While proof of vaccine isn’t always available for adults, Mattern said it can be assumed that anyone born before 1957 will have been safely vaccinated due to the contagion mentality surrounding measles at that time.
“We are not recommending that people get vaccinated who were born before 1957 unless they are in a high-risk situation, like attending the same Super Bowl party with someone who turned out to be infected,” he said.
Those who believe they may be infected or exposed can contact the clinic even if they do not have a primary care provider, Mattern said.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
