Should Indy 500 Staff Validate Their Measles Immunities?

The city of Indianapolis, Indiana is the host of the 103rd Indy 500 car race, scheduled for May 26, 2019. 

This world-class race is among the best-attended, single-day sporting event in the USA, attracting approximately 300,000 fans to the ‘Brickyard’ each year. 

And these loyal racing fans will enjoy the traditional pork tenderloin sandwich, which is sold at numerous Indy 500 concessions. 

These food concessions are usually staffed with part-time workers, such as Indiana University (IU) students. 

Unfortunately, these types of food services staff have often been reported as carriers of infectious diseases during 2019.   

Specifically, the state of Indiana has become an infectious disease hot-spot in 2019, confronted with significant Hepatitis A, measles and mumps virus outbreaks. 

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As an example, the Indiana Health Department has reported 1,405 hepatitis A cases and 5 related deaths, as of May 17, 2019. 

Recently, Amazing Joe’s, located at 2607 Central Ave, Columbus, Indiana, closed after the Bartholomew County Health Department confirmed that a female employee had been diagnosed with the Hepatitis A virus (HAV) while working. 

Which means Amazing Joe’s patrons could have been exposed to the HAV. 

According to reporting by The Republic, this restaurant made arrangements with the Indiana health department to vaccinate the food services staff, who had not been previously immunized for hepatitis A. 

And, 75 miles to the south, Indiana University, confirmed 31 mumps cases in early May. 

Furthermore, the ongoing measles outbreak in 25 states has now exceeded 880 cases and includes the state of Indiana.

To reduce Indy 500 fan health risks, Indiana’s health officials are being very proactive, offering various vaccination programs, such as the following:

• Hepatitis A:  If you do not have health insurance or your insurance does not cover the cost of vaccines, you might be able to receive the hepatitis A vaccine through one of Indiana’s adult vaccine providers. You may also contact the Indiana State Department of Health Immunization Division at 1(800) 701-0704 for more information about the publicly-funded vaccine program.
• Measles:  IU Health is offering eligible Indy 500 fans measles vaccines at the IU Health Infield Care Center, while supplies last. Participants will have to meet certain criteria issued by the Indiana State Department of Health before receiving the measles vaccine.
• Mumps:  Indiana State Health Commissioner has issued a ‘Standing Order’ that allows adults to get the combined vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine from any pharmacy, without a doctor’s prescription.

The CDC says ‘Most vaccine-preventable diseases are spread from person to person. If one person in a community gets an infectious disease, he can spread it to others who are not immune.’

‘But a person who is immune to a disease because she has been vaccinated can’t get that disease and can’t spread it to others.’

Which means, the more people who are vaccinated, the fewer opportunities a disease has to spread.

Various financial support programs for these vaccine-preventable diseases can be found at Vaccine Discounts.