Free vaccines offered in Limerick this week as measles outbreak worsens

Free vaccines are to be offered in Limerick this week as the measles outbreak worsens.

The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine dose will be offered by the HSE free of charge this Friday in an attempt to stop the disease from spreading further. Six more cases of measles were confirmed in Limerick city today, bringing the total number of cases up to 10 since the beginning of January. Limerick radio station Live95FM reports that in order to contain the outbreak, the HSE will be offering free doses of the vaccine at the Southill Health Centre on Friday, February 9, from 10am-1pm. Those living in the Carew Park and Ballinacurra Weston area of Limerick city are urged to avail of the service. Measles is highly contagious and is caused by the rubeola virus. Although the virus can’t survive for that long on surfaces, it’s easily transmitted through tiny droplets, whether that be through sneezing, breathing or coughing. Usually, a measles rash will start off behind the ears, eventually spreading to the face neck, arms and legs. The main features of the measles are fever, cough, red and painful eyes, and a rash, however, complications can lead to pneumonia and death. It is most common in children but can affect people of any age. Vaccinating against measles has been shown to reduce the number of cases as well as countless deaths. According to the HSE, most cases involved in a national outbreak in 2016 had not been vaccinated.