In a decisive move to ramp up defenses against a measles outbreak, Chicago health officials have declared a new vaccination mandate at a Pilsen shelter, targeting preschool-aged children for an additional MMR dose. The City of Chicago announced the initiative Monday, following a spike in cases among youngsters at the Halsted Street facility, many of whom had received only their first of the required two doses.
With nearly 50 children aged 1-5 impacted by the new rollout, parents are being advised to keep their kids home from childcare and preschool for 21 days post-second dose or exposure. The shift comes in the wake of 26 confirmed cases in the city, predominantly linked to the shelter. "We’re seeing some of these cases at the Halsted shelter, which isn’t surprising," said CDPH Commissioner Olusimbo ‘Simbo’ Ige, MD, MPH, acknowledging the urgency to "protect young children from contracting measles by ensuring 2 doses of the MMR vaccine."
According to Chicago health authorities, immunization rates need to tighten to safeguard against the highly infectious virus's grip. The new policy stipulates a first dose be followed by a 28-day gap before administering the second, significantly boosting vaccine effectiveness to 97%. This aligns with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and parallels statewide mandates requiring two doses for K-12 attendance.
Amidst a national measles upturn with cases in 17 states, Chicago's policy also impacts unvaccinated shelter residents under 12 months, who must be excluded from daycare settings until they can safely be immunized. The upgrade in the protocol is to be executed alongside ongoing vaccinations at the city's landing zone, where roughly 4,500 individuals have already received the MMR vaccine since the first case surfaced. The combined efforts aim to staunchly curtail the outbreak's spread, particularly among the vulnerable under-5 population, with 19 of the 26 cases afflicting this age group. The city's health department now hosts a measles dashboard on its website for public tracking of the contagion's trajectory.
In response to the resurgence, all Chicagoans are encouraged to review their vaccination records or reach out to their healthcare providers to confirm they're up to date on MMR jabs. For the uninsured and those eligible for the Vaccines For Children program, the city provides free MMR vaccinations at local health clinics. Moreover, the risk of contracting measles can result in severe health complications, making preventative measures of paramount importance to community health. For individuals unsure about their vaccination status, particularly adults, the city advises checking with health providers or utilizing the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Vax Verify portal.
