New York is responding to an ongoing measles outbreak with a state disaster emergency, while influenza is arriving earlier than usual this year. For Ulster County Public Health Director Dr. Eve Walter, the two developments point to the same message: vaccination can help keep people out of doctors’ offices and hospitals as the fall respiratory illness season gets underway.

The state’s emergency declaration expands the ability of local health departments to test for measles and provide vaccinations, Walter said. It also makes it easier to provide testing and vaccines in the field and gives local health departments access to additional supplies and staffing support from the state if needed.

“It just sort of makes it a little bit faster the response that we’re able to do,” Walter said.

Walter said Ulster County does not currently have any laboratory-confirmed measles cases. One person was considered a case at one level after being exposed to a family member who tested positive in New York City, but the county has no laboratory-confirmed cases, she said.

The county’s vaccination rates also differ depending on age. Walter said vaccination coverage among children is particularly important because very young children — those under 5 — remain a concern. She said the communities driving the current outbreak elsewhere in the state tend to be clusters where vaccination rates are low, something she said is not characteristic of Ulster County and neighboring counties.

At the same time, Walter said the county’s immunization clinics have been well attended this fall, including by families seeking vaccinations for children.

And influenza is already beginning to circulate.

“Across the entire state influenza is kicking in early,” Walter said.

She said the early arrival could indicate a more difficult flu season, but vaccination gives people a way to reduce their risk.

“For people who haven’t gotten their flu shot yet,” Walter said, “now is exactly the right time.”

Walter recommends getting flu and COVID vaccinations at the same time. She also encourages people to keep home COVID tests available and to repeat a test after 24 to 48 hours if symptoms continue following a negative result.

With flu, COVID and measles all presenting public-health challenges, Walter said prevention remains especially important.

“Each one of these you can be immunized and not have it,” she said.

She also urged residents to wash their hands, cover coughs and sneezes, and seek reliable information from the Ulster County Department of Health or the New York State Department of Health.