Chicago Department of Public Health urges people to confirm measles vaccine amid growing Texas outbreak
While Chicago so far has been spared from a surge in measles cases in the U.S. this year, public health officials nonetheless are urging people to make sure they've been vaccinated against the highly contagious disease.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 301 confirmed cases of measles nationwide as of March 13, with about 90% of those cases from an outbreak in Texas and neighboring New Mexico.
That tops the 285 measles cases confirmed in the U.S. all of last year, when a measles outbreak at a Chicago migrant shelter infected 57 immigrants. This year's outbreak is the worst in the U.S. since 2019, when 1,274 cases were reported nationwide, according to the CDC.
While there have been no confirmed measles cases so far this year in Chicago or Illinois, the Chicago Department of Public Health urged all Chicagoans to check their immunization records to make sure they are up to date on the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The CDC recommends people get two doses of the MMR vaccine as children. The vaccine usually protects people for life against measles and rubella, although immunity against mumps might decrease over time.
Illinois residents can check their immunization records by using the Illinois Department of Public Health Vax Verify portal.
The Chicago Department of Public Health offers free MMR vaccines at immunization clinics across the city. Walk-in vaccinations are available, but officials recommend registering for an appointment at getvaxchi.chicago.gov or by calling their nearest clinic.
