While there has been one reported case of measles in Georgia this year and 10 cases in 2025, recent outbreaks in South Carolina and other states are a reminder for practices to remain prepared. Below are considerations for Kids Health First practices as they think about measles exposure prevention and response.

 Routine Vaccination Schedule

• If your practice routinely administers the first dose of MMR at 15 months, consider moving the dose up to 12 months to provide earlier protection.
• Consider offering a dose of MMR at the 6- or 9-month visit (with the understanding that the child will still need two additional doses to be fully protected).
• Consider administering the second dose of MMR earlier than age 4. The second dose is valid as long as it is given at least 28 days after the first dose.

 Identifying Patients Who Are Not Up to Date on Measles Vaccination

• Practices may consider periodically running reports from their EMR or practice management system to identify children 12 months or older who have not received any MMR doses and recalling them for immunization.
• Similarly, reports can be run to identify children who have not received two doses by age 4, with recall as appropriate.
• Consider flagging the charts of patients 12 months and older who are not up to date on measles vaccination:
• Consider scheduling visits for febrile illnesses for these children during times of the day when there are fewer patients in the office.
• Consider mandating masks for these children (age 2 and older) while in common areas of the office.

 Reducing the Risk of Measles Spread Within the Office

• Consider taking the temperature of every child upon arrival and moving any child with a fever to an exam room or isolated area immediately.
• Consider asking screening questions at appointment scheduling and check-in regarding measles exposure or fever.
• Ensure that all staff are up to date on measles immunization.
• When appropriate and available, consider using telemedicine for select visits to reduce the risk of illness spreading within the office.

 Managing a Suspected Case of Measles

Review the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) letter and consider developing a practice-level policy for responding to a child presenting with suspected measles, including:

• Isolation procedures
• Communication with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the county health department
• Cleaning and “resting” the exam room after use

Additional Resources

• Georgia Department of Public Health – Measles Health Alert
• AAP: Measles Prevention and Control
• AAP: Recognizing and Addressing Measles in Pediatric Practice

Thank you for your continued efforts to keep patients, families, and staff safe.