Ulster County Health Officials: Get Vaccinated Against Measles

ULSTER COUNTY, NY — The Ulster County Department of Health on Thursday urged residents to get vaccinated against measles, as cases continue to rise around the country.

To date, there are no known cases of the disease in the county, local health officials said.

“Measles is a preventable disease, and the best way to protect yourself and children from measles is to be fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Gina Carena, medical director for the Ulster County Department of Health.

As of Thursday, 222 measles cases had been reported in the U.S. for 2025. The cases have been in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In comparison, for the entire year of 2024, there were 285 measles cases reported in the U.S.

Measles is highly contagious and can be life-threatening in severe cases, according to the CDC.

An unvaccinated school-aged child has died in Texas, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Ulster County Public Health Director Eve Walter said the department provides free vaccines to residents who lack insurance coverage.

“The vaccine is recommended for children from 12 to 15 months of age, with a second dose given at four to six years of age,” Walter said. “Adults who have not had the MMR vaccine or have not had a documented case of measles can also get vaccinated.”

Visit the New York State Department of Health’s measles website for more information.