ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Amid growing concerns about measles, the Tompkins County Whole Health Department (TCWH) is recommending early vaccination.

TCWH Medical Director Dr. William Klepack urges families to begin their infants’ vaccination series between 6 and 11 months. This is in on top of the regular two-dose series at 12 months and 4 years.

“Measles is a terrible virus with a very high infection rate in unvaccinated populations,” said Dr. Klepack. “We are advising all families to vaccinate their children with the MMR vaccine at 6 months up to 11 months. This is considered ‘dose zero,’ and the regular two-dose series at 12 months and 4 years will follow. The second dose in the two-dose series can be given 4 weeks after the first dose instead of waiting until age 4 if that is desired. Prior to 6 months of age, infants generally have immune protection from maternal antibodies, if the mother was vaccinated.”

There have been cases in nearly every neighboring county, including 48 in Seneca County, which is the most in the state’s currently reported case count of 210. The New York State Department of Health releases updated numbers every Tuesday on its Measles Tracker. Additionally, New York reported its first measles-related death in three decades last week. The victim was a child from Lewis County.

“Due to the continued prevalence of measles surrounding Tompkins County, and the opportunity for unknown exposure to occur as people travel into Tompkins to work or visit, we must take appropriate precautions,” added Klepack. “Besides the risk of an unvaccinated infant encountering someone contagious with measles in their daily life, there is a risk of exposure in urgent and emergency care facilities, especially with respiratory illness season well underway.”

Contact your child’s healthcare provider to schedule an appointment. If your child uses Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or is uninsured, contact TCWH at (607) 274-6604 to schedule vaccination at the TCWH Immunization Clinic.

“While there are still no cases of measles in Tompkins County residents, we want the community to know that we are actively monitoring the emerging situation, working in close coordination with NYS Department of Health, the local health departments of our neighboring counties, and with our healthcare system,” said TCWH Commissioner Jennie Sutcliffe. “With measles so closely surrounding our county, we feel it is important to update our vaccination recommendations accordingly.”

Read more about measles from TCWH here.