The Greene County Health Department will offer an MMR booster clinic Tuesday, Nov. 17, as health officials continue to raise awareness about measles and the importance of vaccination.

The clinic will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Greene County Health Department, 217 E. Spring St. in Bloomfield.

Individuals planning to receive a booster should not enter the building upon arrival. Instead, they should call 812-384-4496 and select option 3 to notify staff they are there.

According to the health department, individuals whose Children and Hoosiers Immunization Registry Program (CHIRP) records show they have received two doses of the MMR vaccine are not eligible for a booster without a physician's written order. The order must state: MMR 0.5mL x1 IM after (Date).

Residents can check their vaccination records online at MyVaxIndiana.in.gov.

The health department also noted that individuals who have been in close contact with someone who has measles or is suspected of having measles may be eligible for an MMR vaccine. Those individuals should park in the back parking lot and call the health department to notify staff of their arrival.

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms typically include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes and a rash.

Symptoms generally appear seven to 14 days after exposure, although they can develop later. The rash typically begins on the face before spreading to other parts of the body.

Health officials encourage residents who suspect they have measles or have been exposed to the virus to call a healthcare provider before visiting a medical facility to help prevent further exposure.

For additional information about Tuesday's clinic, contact the Greene County Health Department at 812-384-4496.