AMES, Iowa -- Free mumps vaccinations will be available at three Story County locations, including the Iowa State University campus, for people ages 18 to 22 who have not completed the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) series.
Anyone in that age group who has had either no vaccination or only one dose in the MMR series is encouraged to get vaccinated.
The effort is part of a mass vaccination in college and university communities in Iowa. However, recipients needn't be enrolled at a college or university to be immunized.
The Iowa Department of Public Health announced April 20 that it would distribute 25,000 doses of mumps vaccine to 35 Iowa counties. Story County will receive 1,300 doses.
Iowa State University requires two doses of MMR for all incoming students, including transfer and graduate students. The second dose must have occurred during or after 1980.
Penni McKinley of ISU's Thielen Student Health Center says that of the more than 17,300 18 to 22 year-olds on the Iowa State campus, less than half of one percent (about 80 students) have not been fully vaccinated against the mumps.
There may be valid reasons for that, McKinley says -- such as medical or religious exemptions -- but the Student Health Center is directly reaching out to those few students who haven't been vaccinated to do so now. McKinley says the Student Health Center also encourages spouses or other family members of students who fit the age and immunization profile to take advantage of the free vaccinations.
There have been three confirmed cases of the mumps at Iowa State as of April 21.
Mumps vaccine clinic locations include:
Lied Recreation Center, Iowa State University (offered by Thielen Student Health Center)
- Wednesday, April 26 and Thursday
April 27, 7 to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m. - Friday, April 28
7 to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
North Grand Mall, Ames, in front of Younkers (offered by HOMEWARD of Mary Greeley Medical Center)
- Wednesday, April 26
4 to 7 p.m. - Thursday, April 27
1 to 4 p.m. - Friday, April 28
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Story County Medical Center, 630 Sixth St., Nevada
(in the hospital outpatient area)
- Wednesday, April 26
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information about the mumps, visit: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~health/homepage.html