TULSA, OK – [January 18, 2017] – The Tulsa Health Department encourages Tulsa County residents to protect themselves against vaccine-preventable diseases like the mumps. While Tulsa County residents are not experiencing an excess of mumps cases like the outbreaks in Garfield County, Northwest Arkansas and other parts of the US, THD health officials want to be proactive to ensure residents and clinicians have the information they need to prevent and limit their exposure to the mumps disease.
The mumps virus is spread from person to person through contact with saliva or mucus from an infected person’s mouth, nose, or throat. It can be spread through coughing, sneezing, or sharing items like drinks or eating utensils.
The best way to prevent the mumps virus is to receive the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine – and encourage others to receive the MMR vaccine as well. It is recommended that children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, with one dose at 12-15 months of age, and a second dose at four to six years of age. Adults should receive the vaccine if they have not been previously vaccinated.
Symptoms of the mumps virus most commonly include swollen salivary glands, fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Symptoms usually appear in a newly infected person 16-18 days later. A person can spread the mumps virus two days before through five days after symptoms begin. There is no specific treatment for the mumps virus, and most people recover within a few weeks without medical care. However, it can cause serious complications in persons with compromised immune systems or for those who are unable to receive the vaccine. If you think you may have the mumps virus, contact your healthcare provider and stay home from child care, school, or work.
Residents are encouraged to check their vaccination status to determine if they are protected from the mumps virus. Vaccination records may be obtained through at www.tulsa-health.org/shotrecords, or through your private healthcare provider. If a vaccinated person does get the mumps virus, they will likely have a less severe illness than an unvaccinated person.
In addition to receiving the MMR vaccine, here are some more ways to prevent getting the mumps virus:
Cover your cough or sneeze
Wash hands often
Do not share drinks or eating utensils
Stay home when you are sick
Clean and disinfect surfaces
Immunizations are available on a walk-in basis Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the following Tulsa Health Department locations:
James O. Goodwin Health Center | 5051 S. 129 E. Ave., Tulsa, OK
Central Regional Health Center | 315 S. Utica, Tulsa, OK
North Regional Health and Wellness Center | 5635 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tulsa OK
Immunizations are also offered at these locations:
Collinsville Community Health Center | 1201 W. Center, Collinsville, OK
Call (918) 596-8650 for clinic dates and times
Sand Springs Health Center | 306 E. Broadway, Sand Springs, OK
Call (918) 591-6100 for clinic dates and times
THD currently accepts Cigna, Community Care, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health Choice, Medicare, SoonerCare and Medicaid for immunizations. Please bring your insurance card and photo ID. THD provides childhood immunizations at no charge to children who qualify for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program according to the CDC’s recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule. Infants, children and adolescents must be accompanied by their parent or guardian to receive immunizations.
