COUNTYWIDE : Longer Clinic Hours for Measles Epidemic

In an effort to curb the county’s growing measles epidemic, health officials are expanding free immunization services at three Health Care Agency clinics.

The Santa Ana clinic will expand its hours and clinics in Buena Park, and Westminster will soon be open in the evenings to handle patients in the red measles (rubeola) epidemic.

“Measles is a very serious disease,” County Health Officer L. Rex Ehling said. “Two children’s deaths have been attributed to measles so far this year. It also cause retardation and deafness.

“Children ill with measles should be kept away from those who are not protected from the disease. This means that parents should call their physician or clinic before they bring in an infected child that may expose others to measles.”

In the first six months of this year, 504 cases have been reported in the county, in contrast with 388 cases in all of 1989.

“Our goal is to provide at least one dose of measles vaccine to persons, both adults and children, who have never been immunized or who were immunized before their first birthday,” Ehling said.

“The disease is worst for children 6 months to 1 year. They have the highest risk of fairly severe disease and the highest risk of death. About 70% are protected by maternal antibodies, but 30% aren’t.”

Although children are at the greatest risk, Ehling encouraged adults ages 20 to 30 to be immunized because the vaccines used in the 1960s were somewhat weaker than later forms.

People who have had measles are immune and need not get the vaccine, he added.

The Health Care Clinic in Westminster, 6462 Industry Way, Suite B, will offer free immunizations Mondays from 4 to 7:45 p.m.

The Buena Park clinic at 7212 Orangethorpe Ave. will offer free immunizations Wednesdays from 4 to 7:45 p.m.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, free immunizations will be available from 4 to 7:45 p.m. at the Santa Ana clinic at 1725 W. 17th St.