We know that everyone is concerned about the headlines around Measles cases rising in the country, with at least one person in Maryland, not associated with the outbreak in TX or NM.
At BW Primary Care, we would like to give our patients more clear clinical guidance on the need for a titer, a booster or nothing at all. Please read this carefully. If an active patient calls in with questions, we will ask them to answer these questions to help decide the next course of action. You can reach out to us via phone or portal with your request as well based on this clinical advice. We do stock the MMR vaccine at our office locations but we need to have the rationale documented in your chart to administer it. If you have a question about insurance coverage, please call your insurance carrier for more information.
PLEASE ANSWER THESE THREE SIMPLE QUESTIONS (YES/NO):
1. Are you born after 1957 or before 1975?
Note: If you are born before 1957 you are assumed to have natural immunity from exposure and you do not need a MMR booster. Born before 1957 =>neither booster or titer is needed
2. Are you or a close contact at a higher risk (clinical exposures, immunocompromised)? “Immunocompromised” examples include medications that decrease immunity, chemotherapy, autoimmune disease, chronic steroids, or overall poor health.
3. Are you planning to travel internationally soon?
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If YES to ANY of the above – you have a choice to do:
Choice 1: Do a MMR titer. We will be able to send an order to your lab of choice. The results will come back in 2 business days. You will be notified of the result and/or you can log into your portal for the results.
Choice 2: Opt to go ahead and get a MMR Booster x1 vaccine. You will need to let us know this choice and we can put in an order for you to come in for a booster. We will inform you of the vaccine process.
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If NO to ALL the questions above, we do NOT recommend a MMR booster. You will not likely become clinically affected. Again, you do not need a vaccine booster. However, if you would like a titer, we can order a lab titer. You can portal or call the office to request this test.
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What does measles look like?
If you believe you might have the symptoms of measles, please DO NOT come into the office because it would endanger the other patients and our staff. Measles is very contagious, spreading through the air and can linger in a room for up to 2 hours after that person has left. We can conduct a telehealth visit to assess your risk and give guidance on supportive care. Consider it if you have recently traveled, have a high fever, and develop a rash. Please read more about the symptoms below. Unfortunately, there is no great treatment for measles which is why it is important to understand the facts about the safe and effective measles vaccines.
- Initial Symptoms (Prodrome):
- High Fever: Often the first noticeable symptom, which can spike to over 104°F (40°C).
- Cough: A dry, persistent cough is common.
- Runny Nose (Coryza): A stuffy or runny nose is another frequent symptom.
- Red, Watery Eyes (Conjunctivitis): Redness and inflammation of the eyes are also typical.
- Koplik’s Spots: Small, white spots with a bluish-white center on a red background may appear inside the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek.
- Rash:
- Appearance: The rash usually appears 3 to 5 days after the initial symptoms, starting as flat red spots on the forehead and spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.
- Appearance on Darker Skin: The spots may be harder to see on darker skin.
- Duration: The rash typically lasts for about 5-6 days before fading.
- Other Symptoms:
- Malaise: Feeling unwell or tired.
- Sensitivity to Light: Some people may experience sensitivity to light.
- Loss of Appetite: Children may have a loss of appetite.
- Diarrhea: Some individuals may experience diarrhea.
- Complications:
- Measles can lead to serious complications, including ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), and even death.
We hope that you remain patient with us during this time of high anxiety and high communication volumes at the office. We aim to do our best every day for our patient community.
-Your BWPC Family