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This story was originally published by Source NM.
By Danielle Prokop, Source NM
Top state health officials on Thursday recommended parents seek an early dose of the measles vaccine for very young children residing in New Mexico counties where measles is actively spreading or traveling to places with high case counts, such as Texas.
Standard measles vaccination recommendations include first shots for children at 12 or 15 months and second doses between 4 to 6 years old. Now, children in Lea, Sandoval, Doña Ana and Curry counties can receive a first dose at 6 to 12 months and ultimately receive three doses of the vaccine, NMDOH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Miranda Durham said during a news conference in Albuquerque.
The reason for the change, she said, is “children under one are most severely affected by measles.”
Three doses is not a universal recommendation, she noted: “but if you’re living in a place with high risk for measles, it’s worth getting.”
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus — more so than COVID-19 or influenza — and is spread by contact with an infected person’s coughs or sneezes. Symptoms can take several weeks to develop, and include a fever, headache, cough, red eyes and a spotty red rash that develops on the head and spreads across the body.
People are contagious several days before symptoms appear. Severe complications appear in about one in five cases and can include brain swelling, pneumonia and even death.
The new vaccine recommendation comes as the state reports two additional measles cases in Sandoval County, bringing the total there to four cases. Until recently, cases mostly remained limited to the southern portion of the state, spilling over from the initial outbreak in Gaines County, Texas.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded just over 1,000 cases of measles nationwide in the current outbreak. The statewide total of 76 cases marks the largest outbreak of measles in New Mexico in the past four decades, Durham said.
Durham said the department is watching closely for spread from Sandoval into Bernalillo or Santa Fe counties.
“Wherever it is in the state we’re concerned about spread because it is such an infectious virus,” Durham said. “We may look at it county by county, but that isn’t how the disease works.”
Officials had no additional information about the two new Sandoval County cases, and said additional information will be released Friday.
NMDOH Secretary Gina DeBlassie said in addition to outreach and vaccination measures, the state is also testing for measles in city wastewater, which can help identify spread. Those cities include: Roswell, Santa Fe, Albuquerque Las Cruces, Deming, Rincon and south-central Carlsbad; the recent results are mostly negative, DeBlassie said.
Health care officials emphasized the best protection from measles is vaccination, which is safe and highly effective in curbing spread. Durham said 29,207 vaccines have been issued since Feb. 1, nearly double the vaccination rate over the same time last year.
Increased travel during summer vacation could risk further spread.
“If you are vaccinated and up to date on vaccines, you really are very well-protected,” Durham said. “You don’t need to be scared, you can go travel — but the message is to get vaccinated before you do that.”
More vaccination information
Health officials recommend a 95% vaccination rate to reach herd immunity to prevent further measles spread. Durham said that vaccines given in childhood offer a lifetime of protection.
Officials recommend two doses of the measles vaccine for everyone, except for people who cannot receive the vaccine, such as children who are younger than six months and people who are immunocompromised or pregnant.
For questions regarding the vaccine or potential exposures, Durham urged people to call the NMDOH hotline at 1-833-796-8773. The hotline is staffed by nurses, who can offer information in English and Spanish.
NMDOH opened clinics offering measles vaccinations at no cost, and with no appointment necessary posted on their website.