Carson City HHS clinic urges measles vaccinations

Extended hours for the public to obtain measles vaccinations are available next Thursday and on Feb. 26, also a Thursday, at Carson City Health and Human Services (HHS), 900 E. Long St.

The walk-in clinic operation usually runs from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 to 4:30 p.m., according an HHS news release, but hours on those Thursdays are being extended to 6 p.m. to provide the measles, mumps and rubbella (MMR) vaccine even as warnings are being issued about the “highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus.” The HHS report indicated about 3 in 10 people who get measles can face complications.

Among the possible complications are pneumonia, ear infections, diarrhea, brain swelling and even death. HHS said the disease can be especially serious for children less than five years of age.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to HHS, recommends all children get two doses of the MMR vaccine starting at 12-15 months of age, with the second one between 4 and 6 years old.