The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) will host a free MMR vaccine clinic in Conway on Tuesday in response to rising measles cases and confirmed community spread in Faulkner County.
The clinic will occur from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Don Owen Sports Complex, 10 Lower Ridge Road. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine will be available at no cost. Health officials ask attendees to bring their insurance card if they have one.
So far this year, six measles cases have been reported in the state, and community transmission has been identified in Faulkner County. The department is tracking case counts and potential exposure locations, which are updated regularly on this ADH website.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to severe complications. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and a rash. Infected individuals can spread the disease from four days before until four days after the rash appears.
Due to the outbreak, vaccine guidance has been updated for residents and travelers in Faulkner County and surrounding areas, including Cleburne, Conway, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, Van Buren, and White counties.
Children ages six to 11 months can now receive an early “zero” dose of the MMR vaccine. This does not replace the standard two-dose schedule, which recommends doses at 12 months and again between ages 4 to 6. Those over 12 months old can receive two doses at least 28 days apart if they have not already been vaccinated.
Health officials say people who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine or who were born before 1957 are generally considered immune.
Image: Public Health Image Library, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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