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News – Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Mumps Booster Shot Recommended for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Students
Illinois Department of Public Health, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and University address mumps outbreak
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), and McKinley Health Center are recommending students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign receive a booster shot of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine as soon as possible, even if they have already received one or two previous MMR vaccinations.
“We continue to see new mumps infections in students at the University and are working to stop the spread,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah. “While most cases on campus have already received two doses of MMR, a third dose may help control the outbreak. Although the vaccine against mumps is extremely effective, it is not perfect. This is why it is important for those who can be vaccinated, to take this extra step and potentially help protect those around them.”
IDPH, CUPHD and McKinley Health Center recommend that students planning to take classes on the Urbana-Champaign campus in the fall to receive the booster vaccine as soon as possible from their local healthcare provider, local health department, health clinic, or pharmacy. Immunity takes two weeks to develop after receiving a vaccination.
In addition to the booster shot, it is important to practice good health habits to reduce the spread of disease, including washing your hands frequently with soap and water, not sharing eating utensils, drinking cups, or cigarettes, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and minimizing close contact with people when sick.
A two-day special MMR vaccine clinic for students, staff and faculty will be held at the ARC Building on Thursday, August 6th and Friday, August 7th from 9 am to 3 pm. During that time, University of Illinois students who present a valid ID card will be eligible to obtain the vaccine at no cost, and CUPHD will provide free vaccinations to staff and faculty.
Information about future vaccination opportunities through McKinley Health Center will be posted at the McKinley website http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu. You can also “Like” Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and Champaign County Prepares on FACEBOOK to keep up with the latest information related to public health. Information about mumps can be found on the IDPH website at www.dph.illinois.gov.
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