County Offers Free Measles Vaccination for Preschoolers

Preschoolers can receive their first or second doses of measles vaccine free over the next three weeks as the San Diego County Health Services Department tries to prevent an epidemic from extending into another year.

The immunizations will be conducted at school sites all over the county, from Carlsbad and Fallbrook to Spring Valley and Imperial Beach.

Nearly 960 measles cases, including three deaths, have been reported in San Diego County this year. From 1983 to 1988, the number of cases was as low as three and as high as 47. A steep rise began last year.

Officials are particularly eager to reach infants and toddlers in the Latino community, because the epidemic has disproportionately affected them and their brothers and sisters.

In the Sun Belt, an influx of poor, unvaccinated immigrants is generally blamed for the increase in measles cases, but federal and state cutbacks in free-immunization programs have also contributed to the epidemic.

For the first time, San Diego County clinics will provide second doses of the vaccine to 5-year-olds. The added dose is now recommended for all children before they enter kindergarten, because, in a few cases, the vaccine fails to work the first time around.

Parents who cannot take their children to a special clinic can call the county’s measles information phone lines for other regular clinic times. The numbers are 236-2512 in San Diego and 940-1164 in North County.

Immunization clinics will be held in:

Carlsbad--Wednesday, Dec. 5, 8-10 a.m. at the Jefferson Elementary School health office, 3743 Jefferson St.

Chula Vista--Friday, Dec. 14, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Harborside Elementary School health office, 681 Naples St.

Escondido--Tuesday, Dec. 18, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Lincoln Elementary School, Room 32, 1029 N. Broadway.

Fallbrook--Monday, Dec. 17, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Fallbrook Street Elementary School, 405 W. Fallbrook St.

Imperial Beach--Thursday, Dec. 13, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Central Elementary School, 1290 Ebony Ave.

Lakeside--Wednesday, Dec. 12, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Lindo Park Elementary School auditorium, 12824 Lakeshore Drive.

National City--Friday, Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Central Elementary School auditorium, 933 E Ave.

San Diego--Tuesday, Dec. 4, 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the Logan Elementary School communications room, 2875 Ocean View Blvd.

Also, Thursday Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Brooklyn Elementary School, 3035 Ash St.

San Marcos--Wednesday, Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Paloma Elementary School, 660 Camino Magnifico.

Solana Beach--Tuesday, Dec. 11, 8:30-10:30 a.m. at Solana Vista Elementary School, Kiva room, 780 Santa Victoria Ave.

Spring Valley--Tuesday, Dec. 4, 12:30-2:30 p.m. at the La Presa Elementary School stage area, 519 La Presa St.

Vista--Wednesday, Dec. 19, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Santa Fe Elementary School, 600 N. Santa Fe Ave.