Monroe County health update: wastewater COVID signals still elevated; MMR mobile clinic set for April 21 in Ellettsville

Monroe County health staff told the Board of Commissioners on April 10 that emergency visits for COVID-like illness have decreased but wastewater concentrations remain elevated, and that flu activity in the county is minimal. The health department also announced an MMR vaccine mobile clinic at the Monroe County Public Library, Ellettsville branch, on April 21 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Health department staff said on Tuesday that "as of April 8, emergency visits for COVID like illness has decreased, but wastewater concentrations are still elevated. Flu activity is minimal." They also reported there are "6 confirmed measles cases in Allen County as of yesterday" and repeated clinicians' guidance on the MMR schedule: a dose between 12 and 15 months and again between 4 and 6 years. "Two doses of the vaccine are 97 percent effective in preventing measles and providing protection for life," the health update said.

Commissioner Madera urged residents to get vaccinated. "I think it was just a matter of time before the cases made their way into Indiana. I think this is a very scary time. I'm very glad, that, my loved ones and myself are vaccinated, and I urge everyone out there to get themselves and their loved ones vaccinated so we don't have the catastrophic loss of life, that we've seen in Texas," Madera said during the meeting.

The health department asked residents unsure of MMR vaccination status to contact the county health department for guidance. The April 21 mobile clinic will be held at the Monroe County Public Library, Ellettsville branch, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.; officials encouraged parents to bring vaccination records when possible.

No formal action or funding vote was taken on the health update during the April 10 meeting; the item was presented as a department update.