With recent measles outbreaks as close as Washington State, Oregon and British Columbia, now is a good time to make sure your immunizations are up to date. Children should get two doses of MMR, or measles, mumps, rubella, vaccine, starting at 12-15 months with a second dose at 4-6 years of age. Two doses of MMR vaccine are considered 97 percent effective at preventing measles. Measles is highly infectious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Learn more about measles at www.cdc.gov/measles.
For more health-related information, tune into the call-in radio program for Line One: Your Health Connection every Wednesday morning at 10 AM on alaskapublic.org or on 91.1 FM in Anchorage, Alaska.
This health tip made possible in part by The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.
