Measles outbreak triggers bill to change vaccine exemptions
Health officials say they now have 35 cases of measles in the Clark County outbreak, and are handling 11 more suspected cases of the infection.
Officials say 31 of those infected were not immunized, while four others are not verified to have had the vaccine.
Washington state lawmakers introduced a bill Friday to eliminate personal exemptions for the measles vaccine.
State Rep. Paul Harris (R-Vancouver) is sponsoring the bill and said the bill gets rid of personal exemption but leaves in place the religious and health exemptions.
“We absolutely have rights. but sometimes our rights do not supersede the majority,” Harris said.
The bill is meeting with some early opposition by people who consider the measles vaccine flawed and controversial. They said more research needs to be done on whether there's a link between vaccinations and autism.
“This is a troubling vaccine. We cannot ask parents to choose between nothing or this flawed vaccine,” said Bernadette Pajer with Informed Choice Washington.
The date for a hearing for the bill has not been set yet.
Most of the confirmed cases involve children under 10 years old, however, nine cases involve kids ages 11 to 18 and one case is for a person over 19 years old.
Those who are infected visited several public places while contagious. Officials say one of the most recent people confirmed to have the infection visited the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), as well as several stores, like the Walmart and Trader Joe's in Vancouver. (full list of locations and exposure times below)
King County keeps a list of the percentage of students who are vaccinated at each school, as well as the percentage of those who requested exemptions.
Measles symptoms begin with a mild fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash.
"Measles can be so contagious that you can be in a room, and if you’re susceptible, two hours after someone with measles left, and still get the disease," said Dr. Alan Melnick, the director of public health for Clark County.
If you or your child show signs of measles, call your health care provider before coming in so they can limit exposing anyone else in the waiting room.
Multnomah, Clackamas, Cowlitz, Klickitat, and Washington do not have any cases.
"Most people are immunized, but again measles does have a way of finding people who aren’t. It’s the most contagious human disease we know about," Dr. Paul Lewis with Multnomah County Health said.
Dr. Lewis says if you have a child under the age of 1 that you are concerned about, you can talk to your healthcare provider about getting the vaccine early. You should also check with any daycare your child attends to make sure they require their workers to be up to date on immunizations.
If you have any further questions about the measles, call your local health department:
Clark County Public Health: (360) 397-8021
Clackamas County Public Health: (503) 655-8411
Multnomah County Public Health: (503) 988-3406
Washington County Public Health: (503) 846-3594
Below is a list of all of the locations where the infected patients visited while contagious:
Health care facilities:
PeaceHealth Urgent Care – Memorial, 3400 Main St.
Noon to 5:30 pm Monday, Dec. 31.
4:30 to 7:50 pm Saturday, Jan. 19.
Magnolia Family Clinic, 2207 NE Broadway, Suite 200, Portland from 11:30 am to 3 pm Tuesday, Jan. 8.
The Vancouver Clinic, 700 NE 87th Ave., Vancouver
3:30 to 7 pm Friday, Jan. 11.
10:45 am to 1:30 pm Saturday Jan. 12.
4:30 to 7:30 pm Sunday, Jan. 13.
9:30 am to 1 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
Vancouver Clinic Columbia Tech Center, 501 SE 172nd Ave., Vancouver from 11:30 am to 4 pm Friday, Jan. 11
Kaiser Cascade Park Medical Office, 12607 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver
1 to 8:30 pm Saturday, Jan. 12
7 pm Tuesday, Jan. 15 to 2 am Wednesday, Jan. 16.
12:30 to 7:30 pm Saturday, Jan. 19.
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Emergency Department, 400 NE Mother Joseph Place, Vancouver
10 pm Saturday, Jan. 12 to 4 am Sunday, Jan. 13.
12:30 to 8:30 pm Sunday, Jan. 13.
Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Emergency Department, 2211 NE 139th St., Vancouver
8:30 pm Saturday, Jan. 12 to 1 am Sunday, Jan. 13.
5:45 pm Sunday, Jan. 13 and 12:30 am Monday, Jan. 14.
11:40 pm Monday, Jan. 14 to 5:10 am Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Rose Urgent Care and Family Practice, 18 NW 20th Ave., Battle Ground from 3:45 to 8 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
Kaiser Orchards Medical Office, 7101 NE 137th Ave., Vancouver
1:55 to 6:10 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
1:50 to 7:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 24
The Vancouver Clinic Salmon Creek, 2525 NE 139th St., Vancouver
8:15 am to noon Friday, Jan. 18
4:30 to 9:30 pm Wednesday, Jan. 23
Legacy GoHealth Urgent Care Cascade Park, 305 SE Chkalov Drive, Vancouver from 6:25 to 10:15 pm Tuesday, Jan. 22.
Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland has been removed from the list of potential exposure sites. Public Health learned Randall Children’s Hospital was notified in advance of the potential measles patient and was able to take prevention measures to ensure others were not exposed to the patient.
Schools and Child Care Facilities:
Cornerstone Christian Academy, 10818 NE 117th Ave., Vancouver on Friday, Jan. 4
Vancouver Home Connection, 301 S. Lieser Road, Vancouver on Monday, Jan. 7; Wednesday, Jan. 9; and Friday, Jan. 11.
Hearthwood Elementary School, 801 NE Hearthwood Blvd., Vancouver on Monday, Jan. 7; Tuesday, Jan. 8; and Wednesday, Jan. 9.
Slavic Christian Academy, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Vancouver on Monday, Jan. 7.
Image Elementary School, 4400 NE 122nd Ave., Vancouver on Tuesday, Jan. 8 and Wednesday, Jan. 9.
Eisenhower Elementary School, 9201 NW Ninth Ave., Vancouver on Tuesday, Jan. 8 and Wednesday, Jan. 9.
Evergreen High School, 14300 NE 18th St., Vancouver on Wednesday, Jan. 9.
Maple Grove School, 601B SW Eaton Blvd., Battle Ground on Tuesday, Jan. 8 and Wednesday, Jan. 9.
Orchards Elementary School, 11405 NE 69th St., Vancouver on Monday, Jan. 14.
River HomeLink, 601 SW Eaton Blvd., Battle Ground on Tuesday, Jan. 8 and Wednesday, Jan. 9.
St. Paul Christian Daycare, 1309 Franklin St., Vancouver:
Wednesday, Jan. 16
Thursday, Jan. 17
Friday, Jan. 18
Wednesday, Jan. 23
Tukes Valley Primary School, 20601 NE 167th Ave., Battle Ground on Tuesday, Jan. 8.
Tukes Valley Middle School, 20601 NE 167th Ave., Battle Ground on Tuesday, Jan. 8
Yelena’s Daycare, 17007 NE 23rd St., Vancouver:
Tuesday, Jan. 22
Wednesday, Jan. 23
Public Health is requiring exclusion of students and staff without documented immunity to measles from only those schools identified as possible exposure sites. Students and staff excluded from those identified schools are also excluded from other schools, child care and other congregate settings. Students and staff at schools where measles exposure did not occur are not impacted by exclusions.
Other locations:
Portland International Airport, 7000 NE Airport Way, Portland
10:45 am to 3:45 pm on Monday, Jan. 7. More specifically, anyone who spent time in Concourse D and the Delta Sky Lounge during that time period.
7:30 to 11 pm Tuesday, Jan.15. More specifically, baggage claim and south end of the ticket counter (near Alaska Airlines and Starbucks).
Costco, 4849 NE 138th Ave., Portland
1 to 5:30 pm Tuesday, Jan. 8
5:30 to 8:40 pm Wednesday, Jan. 16
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave., Portland from 2:30 to 7 pm Saturday, Jan. 19.
Trader Joes, 305 SE Chkalov Drive, Vancouver from 12:30 to 3:40 pm Monday, Jan. 21.
Walmart Supercenter, 14505 NE Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver 1:30 to 5 pm Monday, Jan. 21.
A Children's Dentist, 101 NW 12th Ave., Battle Ground from 1:30 to 6 pm Tuesday, Jan. 8.
Amazon Lockers, 1131 SW Jefferson St., Portland from 3:30 pm to 7 pm Thursday, Jan. 10.
Chuck's Produce, 13215 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 8 to 11:45 pm Thursday, Jan. 10 and 2:30 to 5:30 pm Friday, Jan. 11.
Church of Christ Our Savior, 3612 F St., Vancouver
9:30 am to noon Sunday, Jan. 6
6 to 11:30 pm Sunday, Jan. 6
9:10 am to 3 pm Sunday, Jan. 13
Church of Truth, 7250 NE 41st St., Vancouver from 11 am to 4:30 pm Sunday, Jan. 6.
Dollar Tree, 7809-B Vancouver Plaza Drive, Vancouver from 6:30 to 9:10 pm Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Dollar Tree, 11501 NE 76th St., Vancouver from 8:10 to 10:50 pm Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Dollar Tree, 305 SE Chkalov Drive, Vancouver from 1:10 to 4 pm Monday, Jan. 21.
Fisher Investments, 5525 NW Fisher Creek Drive, Camas
6:20 am to 7 pm Thursday, Jan. 10
6:20 am to 7 pm Friday, Jan. 11
6:20 am to 7 pm Monday, Jan. 14
6:20 am to 7 pm Tuesday, Jan. 15
GracePoint Christian Church, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Vancouver from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday, Jan. 7.
God Will Provide Church, 7321 NE 110th St., Vancouver from 7 to 11 pm Friday, Jan. 18.
Golden Corral, 11801 NE Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 4 to 9 pm Saturday, Jan. 19.
Ikea, 10280 NE Cascades Parkway, Portland from 4:30 to 8:30 pm Friday, Jan. 11.
Moda Center (Trail Blazers game), 1 N Center Court St., Portland from 5:30 to 11:30 pm Friday, Jan. 11.
New Life Mission Church, 3300 NE 172nd Place, Portland from 9:30 am to 2 pm Sunday, Jan. 20.
Pho Green Papaya, 13215 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 7:30 to 10:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 10.
Rejuvenation, 1100 SE Grand Ave. Portland from 3:30 to 7:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 10.
Tower Mall public areas (entrances, hallways), 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 2:50 to 6:15 pm Wednesday, Jan. 23.
Verizon Wireless at Cascade Station, 10103 NE Cascades Parkway, Portland from 5 to 11 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
Vancouver Division of Children, Youth and Families, 907 Harney St., Vancouver from 12:15 to 5:15 pm Friday, Jan. 18.
Vancouver Women, Infant and Children (WIC) office, 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 2:50 to 6:15 pm Wednesday, Jan. 23.
