DOHMH Health Advisory
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) recently released a health advisory related to the current measles outbreak which now totals almost 400. While most cases have been in the Orthodox Jewish communities of Williamsburg, a small number have occurred outside of this area. The advisory includes recommendations about vaccinations and proof of immunity, and provides specific guidance for individuals residing in the four zip codes in Williamsburg impacted by the Order of the Commissioner.
Materials and Sample Resources from Recent GNYHA Measles Update Webinar
Last week, GNYHA hosted a webinar to update member hospitals on the current measles outbreak, and to share best practices related to identification and isolation of suspected patients, as well as precautionary measures such as limiting visitors to minimize exposure risk. Materials and a recording of the webinar can be found here. We also thank NYU Langone Health for sharing resources they have developed related to visitor education, screening algorithms for hospital and ambulatory sites, and process workflows. These materials can be found at the link above. Numerous questions were raised during the webinar; New York State Department of Health and DOHMH colleagues are developing a Frequently Asked Questions document which GNYHA will share as soon as it is complete.
Member hospitals and health systems are encouraged to conduct outreach and education with patients and visitors about the availability and importance of measles vaccination. Members are also encouraged to expand immunization services and hours as possible, including to the broader community.
GNYHA will continue to inform members of developments and resources related to the current measles outbreak.