Pennsylvania health officials hold pop-up measles clinic in Peach Bottom serving Plain community
A temporary vaccination site at the Robert Fulton Fire Company in Peach Bottom administered measles shots to members of the local Plain community and other residents as the state responds to a surge in cases.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health set up a pop-up measles vaccination clinic at the Robert Fulton Fire Company in Peach Bottom on Tuesday, drawing families from the nearby Plain community and other area residents. The clinic was part of a broader effort to increase vaccine access in regions experiencing high numbers of cases; the state has recorded 792 measles infections.
Attendees arrived in vans and horse-drawn buggies, with many citing concern about the disease after seeing cases within their community. The department did not allow filming inside the site for privacy reasons.
"Measles virus is among the most infectious viruses we have. It doesn't ask what your race is, what your religion is, or where you live," said Dr. Robert Bonacci, medical advisor to the Pennsylvania health secretary. He added that the outreach targets areas where the virus is spreading rather than any specific group.
Dr. Bonacci noted that the department vaccinated more than 46,000 people with the MMR vaccine in August and typically reaches about 25,000 individuals each month. He said the temporary clinics provide information, allow questions, and aim to make vaccination convenient, emphasizing that widespread immunization is essential to ending the outbreak.