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Sedgwick County health officials urge vaccinations after nearby measles cases; free clinic held
Summary
Sedgwick County Health Department staff reported no local measles cases but warned of 10 confirmed Kansas cases in nearby counties and held a free measles vaccination clinic that served about 45 people.
Adrian Byrne, director of the Sedgwick County Health Department, told the Board of County Commissioners on March 26 that there were no confirmed measles cases in Sedgwick County but that health officials are watching an outbreak in nearby counties.
Byrne said Kansas had 10 cases concentrated in Grant, Harper and Stevens counties and described measles as “a highly contagious respiratory illness” that can linger in the air for two hours. He told commissioners the county began planning several weeks ago and has been coordinating with local medical partners and the Medical Society of Sedgwick County.
The health department held a no-cost measles vaccination clinic last Saturday that drew about 45 people, Byrne said. “We had more adults that were unvaccinated that came in to be vaccinated than we had children,” he said, and added that several families with unvaccinated children received the first dose at the event.
Byrne reviewed vaccination guidance: the routine childhood schedule calls for a first MMR dose at 12–15 months and a second dose at 4–6 years; in an exposure setting, infants can be vaccinated as early as 6 months but must still receive the routine doses later. He said one dose is about 93 percent effective and two doses about 97 percent.
Communications staff announced the county will host another walk-in clinic at the Sedgwick County Health Department on East Nineteenth Street; adults and children 12 and older may be vaccinated. Byrne urged residents to bring identification, vaccination records and insurance information if available.
Commissioners asked follow-up questions about the counties with cases and the department’s planning. Byrne confirmed the three Kansas counties with cases cited in state alerts were Grant, Harper and Stevens and said the county’s work included outreach to physicians and partner meetings.
No formal action or vote was taken. The county’s public materials direct residents to sedgwickcounty.org/fire and the county health website for clinic dates and CDC guidance.
