Amid statewide measles outbreak, Cook County residents remain “excited” about vaccines

In May of 2024 the Minnesota Department of Health declared an outbreak of measles. Most of the cases, according to the MDH, were centered around the Twin Cities, and had occurred in individuals who were unvaccinated. The outbreak was declared with around three dozen cases, but the MDA reports that, so far in 2024, over 50 cases have been reported.

Dr. Alexys Hillman of the Sawtooth Mountain clinic told WTIP that, though the numbers might not sound large, they are significant. She said that most people will recover from measles, but that there is a risk of long term impacts, including encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and infertility. Measles is most common in children, and the MDH reports that in this current outbreak, nearly half of the cases have been in children ages 1-5 years old.

Hillman went on to say that with the rising number of parents choosing not to have their children vaccinated, the risk for that population increases significantly. She said, “Unlike covid, where it seems to be becoming less virulent over time – it’s still endemic, like it’s everywhere – measles is not. So we really worry about it getting into those populations that have been opting not to vaccinate, and spreading like wildfire.”

For her patients, Hillman seems less worried. She described Cook County residents as “excited about vaccines.”  She said that the high vaccine rate among residents contributes to “herd immunity” that helps protect those who cannot be vaccinated or chose not to be.

That does not mean, however, that there aren’t some vaccines that Hillman says she sees missing from some patients’ records. She mentioned that the vaccines she most often sees skipped are those for the human papillomavirus (HPV), and meningococcal meningitis. She emphasized that both are important. The HPV vaccine can prevent cancer, and that for those going to college, joining the military, or living in any other very high-density housing, the meningococcal meningitis vaccine could save their life.

Hillman said that if a patient or their parent is looking for information about how to get caught up with missed vaccines, they should contact the clinic. She also added that the 2024 flu shoot and COVID vaccine are currently available through the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic. There will be a series of community vaccine events specifically for the flu and COVID shots, and that appointments can be made to address any other missed vaccines.

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with Dr. Alexys Hillman about the current measles outbreak in Minnesota and the importance of childhood vaccines. Audio of that interview can be found below.

Kirsten Wisniewski September 20, 2024