The Ulster County Health Department is organizing free measles vaccination clinics in response to a national and global measles outbreak. The clinics will be held on Tuesday (June 17) at the Trudy Resnick Farber Building in Ellenville. They will operate in two sessions: from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

According to the Daily Freeman, the clinics will offer first-time MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccinations for babies, children, and adults, as well as booster shots for those born between 1963 and 1967. This age group may have received a less effective version of the vaccine prior to 1968.

The Ulster County Department of Health emphasizes the importance of vaccination due to the highly contagious nature of measles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that nearly all recent U.S. measles cases have occurred in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status. The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine: the first between 12 and 15 months of age, and the second between four and six years.

The Town of Lloyd notes that no reservations are required for the clinic, but residents are encouraged to notify the organizers in advance to ensure sufficient supply and staffing. For more information or to confirm attendance, residents can contact Janet Nuñez, Trudy Center Site Program Manager, at (845) 210-8101. For general questions about measles or vaccinations, the Ulster County Department of Health can be reached at (845) 340-3070.

Elvis Duran