The Rock Island County Health Department, School Health Link, and Rock Island Academy are

teaming up to help you vaccinate your child against measles. The Health Department and School Health

Link will be at Rock Island Academy on May 28 from 2:30-6:30 p.m. to vaccinate against measles.

Measles can be serious and can cause many health complications, including hospitalizations,

brain swelling, brain damage and death.

Some of the more common measles symptoms include: fever, rash, runny nose and red eyes.

Measles is very contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or

sneezes. Infants and children that are in a room with such a person, can still receive the disease up to

two hours after an infected person leaves the room. Measles can be spread before the infected person

knows that they have the disease. You no longer have to be traveling overseas in order to contract the

disease.

The best protection against measles is through the MMR vaccine-- measles, mumps and rubella.

The vaccine provides long- lasting protection against all strains of measles. Children need two doses of

the MMR vaccine for best protection: The first dose administered at 12-15 months of age and the

second dose at 4-6 years of age.

Please keep in mind that those infants who are younger than 12 months of age have NO

protection. They are not old enough to receive the vaccine, and if they are exposed to someone with

measles, they could have horrific consequences.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stands behind the vaccine and encourages

everyone to get vaccinate. Please come and allow us to educate you and answer your questions.

Please bring your child’s vaccination records, insurance or Medicaid cards with you. If you are

not sure if you have coverage, please call your insurance company prior to visit. We also will accept

cash. Please call 309-558-2822 for payment questions.