The Pima County Health Department is planning to increase access to measles vaccines to schools with low vaccination rates, as outbreaks of the disease in Texas and New Mexico continue.
Director Dr. Theresa Cullen told the Pima County Board of Supervisors Tuesday that about 47% of Pima County schools fall below the 95% herd immunity threshold, with charter and private schools experiencing lower vaccination rates than public schools.
Cullen said measles can make children seriously ill, and the best way to prevent becoming sick is a full two-dose course of the MMR vaccine.
“What we are seeing is a consistent rate below 95% in the kindergarten time period. The reason why that is so important is for many children, kindergarten is the first time they are now living within a congregate setting, and so it's important that immunization occur at that time,” she said.
The Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday on a motion that directs the Health Department to develop a plan within 90 days to deploy mobile measles vaccination clinics to schools with the lowest vaccination rates.
In the meantime, Cullen said the Health Department is sending measles information to all schools and educating county healthcare providers on the signs and symptoms.
“It is true that the vast majority of providers in this country have never seen a case of measles, with huge chagrin for all of the health care providers. What we know is the recognition of measles is important,” she said.
Supervisor Adelita Grijalva requested gauging whether mobile clinics could include other vaccinations besides measles, and to prepare for potential loss of federal funding.
“When you're thinking about the plan, help us to understand what the impact might be if our federal government isn't going to reimburse, like they used to reimburse for some of these common vaccinations,” she said.
The MMR vaccine is a standard vaccination for children and protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Pima County students are required to receive two doses of the MMR vaccine before entering kindergarten, although in Arizona parents can apply for religious, personal, or medical vaccine exemptions through the state health department.
Arizona’s statewide vaccine exemption rate is higher than the national average. Last year, almost 9% of new students entering kindergarten had vaccine exemptions for non-medical reasons, according to data from the CDC.
Pima County’s exemption rate is slightly lower at about 5%, but still higher than the national average of 3.3%.
Supervisor Matt Heinz, a practicing physician, requested the measles update from Cullen, and called COVID-19 “laughable, compared to measles.”
“Measles is a terrifying potential viral epidemic, and it is incredibly, incredibly contagious, far more contagious than COVID,” he said.
According to Cullen, about 90% of people without vaccination or prior immunity will develop symptoms if exposed to measles.
There are currently no reported measles cases in Pima County. Cullen said the last reported case in the county was in 2019, and it was quickly contained.
Arizona reported five cases of measles in the state last year, but concern is growing over the measles outbreaks in West Texas and New Mexico, which have topped 301 cases between Jan. 1 and March 14.
Heinz said he wants a plan in place by the start of the next school year. The Supervisors plan to vote on the Health Department’s proposal in 90 days.
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