COUNTYWIDE : Kaiser Joins Fight Against Measles

Kaiser Permanente has joined forces with the Orange County Health Care Agency to fight the county’s measles epidemic.

A Kaiser “wellness care” van will be visiting Santa Ana, Stanton, Anaheim and Placentia from Monday to July 27 to offer free measles shots to adults and children.

“Our goal is to provide at least one dose of measles vaccine to persons, both adults and children, who have never been immunized or who were immunized before their first birthday,” said Dr. Rex Ehling, the county’s public health director

The offer of Kaiser’s 38-foot-long motor coach--a clinic on wheels with three examining rooms--came at the urging of 3rd District Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez.

So far in Orange County this year, two Latino infants have died from the disease and more than 500 cases have been reported, many involving young Latino children who had never been immunized.

In the first six months of last year, 388 measles cases were reported in Orange County, but no deaths.

Latino residents have been particularly hard hit here and around California in part because adults who qualify for amnesty but have not been inoculated frequently visit Mexico, where measles is also raging out of control. They then transmit the disease to relatives on their return to Southern California, health officials have said.

Once considered a common childhood disease, red measles is characterized by rash, fever and watery eyes, but its complications can include severe pneumonia, mental retardation and death.

Orange County’s Health Care Agency is offering free measles immunizations at several locations.

In addition, the Kaiser van will visit the following locations:

Monday: From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Centennial Education Center in Santa Ana, Fairview Street and Edinger Avenue.

July 23: From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Stanton Cultural Arts and Recreation Center, 1801 Cedar St., Stanton.

July 24: From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Neighborhood Community Center, Santa Ana.

July 25: From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Manzanita Park, 1260 Riviera St., Anaheim.

July 27: From 11 a.m to 2 p.m at Whitten Community Center, 900 South Melrose St., Placentia.

For more information, contact the Health Care Agency’s public health division at (714) 8348440.