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It’s not hard to connect the dots. Once considered eradicated, measles is now escalating. Naval Hospital Bremerton public health and preventive medicine providers have been paying close attention to locally confirmed measle cases in the Puget Sound area, as well as outbreaks across the country. While there isn’t cause for alarm, but there is always a need for awareness. In anticipation of servicemembers preparing for summer permanent change of station orders with family members, as well as increased travel activity over spring and summer season, experts recommend ensuring vaccinations are up to date. Discuss with your medical team regarding early measles vaccination prior to any international travel and travel to high-risk areas in the United States with measles outbreaks. Protect yourself with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97 percent effective at preventing measles. One dose is about 93 percent effective. The CDC notes that those who are primarily impacted by the preventable virus are children and adolescents who had not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. NHB’s Immunization Clinic is providing vaccinations on a walk-in basis, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 8 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., for Measles, as well as acute respiratory illnesses – influenza, RSV [respiratory syncytial virus], COVID, and TDaP - which in Washington State is a school-required vaccine for students in grades 7-12 (Official Navy graphic by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer Benedict, NHB/NMRTC Bremerton public affairs)