By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The Barton County Commission also serves as the county’s Board of Health. The last time the Board of Health met was three years ago, with final discussions on the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board met Tuesday following the regularly scheduled Commission meeting to get updated information on the spread of measles across the state and country.
On March 13, the Barton County Health Department received notice that the first measles case was confirmed in a Kansas resident in Stevens County. Barton County Health Director Karen Winkelman said this is the first measles case in Kansas since 2018.
"When the first case came out, we met as a group," said Winkelman. "We started talking about what could we do proactively. If we can prevent one case that's big for time. The length of the investigation process is very time consuming. We started saturating media with educational things. It's not a scare tactic. It's just to provide education."
As of last week, there were 23 confirmed cases of measles in Kansas spread throughout six counties. The largest number effected are those ages five to 17. Out of the 23 cases, 20 of those individuals are not vaccinated.
The first measles vaccination was licensed in 1963 and the shot has eventually turned into a recommended two-dose vaccination, the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination.
"It was first recommended as one dose," said Winkelman. "They looked at the coverage. With it being 93-percent, they introduced a second dose as a requirement for higher protection in 1989. So the vaccine has been around for a long time."
The majority of Barton County residents are fully vaccinated for the measles as typically the first dose is given when the individual turns one year old and the second dose at the age of four.
The Barton County Health Department is hosting a Measles Prevention Clinic Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at their office in Great Bend. The clinic will allow individuals to receive the MMR vaccine and check their immunity status.