MONTICELLO – The Sullivan County Department of Public Health is helping residents understand the state’s disaster emergency declaration related to measles, emphasizing that the declaration does not mean residents are in immediate danger.
Gov. Kathy Hochul issued the executive order amid increased measles activity in New York. The order gives public health agencies additional flexibility to support vaccination, testing, disease surveillance, and response.
Among other provisions, the order expands the health professionals who can administer measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, facilitates measles specimen collection and testing, and changes certain MMR immunization reporting requirements.
“A State of Emergency does not mean that everyone is in immediate danger or that people should panic,” Sullivan County Public Health Director Dr. Jessie Moore said. “It means Public Health has additional tools available to prevent disease, prepare our communities, and respond quickly when needed.”
Sullivan County Public Health is conducting outreach to health care providers, emergency medical services and fire agencies, schools, child care providers, community organizations and other gathering places.
The outreach includes information on recognizing measles symptoms, preventing exposure, verifying vaccination status, obtaining MMR vaccinations, appropriate testing, infection-control practices and reporting suspected cases.
The department is also working to expand opportunities for residents and community partners to review their vaccination status and receive MMR vaccinations when appropriate.
“Preparedness is not panic,” Moore said. “Our goal is to make sure our healthcare providers, first responders, schools, childcare providers and residents know what to do and who to call.”
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