Milwaukee Health Department offers free measles vaccine at immunization clinic

The Milwaukee Health Department is offering a immunization clinic this weekend and officials are pushing the measles vaccine.

To get that vaccine, all parents need to bring are their kids. Immunization records, insurance and money are not required.

The measles were eradicated as of 2000 so health officials said this recent outbreak is surprising and disturbing.

The city of Milwaukee's health director, Paul Biedrzycki, points to three factors fueling the disease. They are imported measles cases, young health care providers who may not be able to recognize the disease and the big increase in parents who are signing waivers opting their kids out of the vaccine. But, officials stress it's a public health risk that can be prevented.

\"If you receive two doses of the MMR vaccine you're considered fully immunized and you should no longer experience measles infection or have the ability to spread it, transit it to others,\" Biedrzycki said. \"So unvaccinated kids are vulnerable to measles, but they don't pose a risk to fully vaccinated children in the classroom or school.\"

The goal is to have 95 percent immunization compliance in city public and private schools. That number now stands at 89 percent.

The Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St., will be open Saturday, February 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Keenan Health Center, 3200 N. 36th St., will be open Saturday February 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Milwaukee Health Department points out Wisconsin law requires children be immunized against the mumps, measles and pertussis in order to attend public school.