There are no new confirmed measles cases on the North Olympic Peninsula and no tests pending at state laboratories, Clallam and Jefferson County public health officials said Wednesday.
Vaccinations are being encouraged for children and eligible adults after four Port Angeles residents were stricken with the highly contagious viral disease earlier this month.
All four cases are out of quarantine, said Dr. Jeanette Stehr-Green, Clallam County interim public health officer.
Others have been in quarantine without tests being done, health officials have said.
No-cost vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella are being expanded to the West End beginning today.
Clallam County Public Health will offer a no-cost immunization clinic from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at Forks Elementary School, Room 102, 301 S. Elderberry Ave.
Another clinic will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the Bogachiel Clinic, 590 Bogachiel Way, Forks.
In addition, the Clallam County Public Health Clinic in Port Angeles will offer no-cost vaccination clinics from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Friday at 111 Third St., Suite 1-A.
Call 360-417-2274 to make an appointment. Walk-ins will be served but could face a wait.
In Port Townsend, vaccination clinics are offered at the Jefferson County Public Health Clinic at 615 Sheridan St. and at the Jefferson Healthcare primary care clinic at 934 Sheridan St.
The county health clinic offers the MMR vaccine on a walk-in basis from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Jefferson Healthcare’s clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Vaccinations must be scheduled by calling 360-379-8031.
Although the vaccine is free to children, both the hospital and Jefferson County Public Health Clinic charge an administrative fee billable to insurance.
“We’ve had no cases, and no tests are pending at this time,” said Lisa McKenzie, communicable disease program manager Jefferson County Public Health.
Health officials are working with schools to encourage vaccinations, Stehr-Green said.
Those who were in contact with the four measles cases in Clallam County are being monitored but have shown no signs of having measles.
“It has been a really busy couple of days,” Stehr-Green said.
Airborne measles is so contagious, it can remain in the air two hours after an infected person leaves.
Children should be vaccinated with two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first dose between 12 and 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years old, officials said.
Adults born after 1957 usually require one vaccination. Adults born before 1957 generally are thought to be immune.
For more information, see http://tinyurl.com/PDN-CDCmeasles.
