Allen County schools prepare for measles

Apr. 4—LIMA — Schools are reviewing immunization records and warning parents whose children are not fully vaccinated against measles that their child may be excused from school for three weeks if a measles case is confirmed in their school.

Allen County Public Health reported the county's first confirmed measles case in at least 25 years last Friday in an unvaccinated resident under the age of 18.

Health Commissioner Brandon Fischer did not disclose whether the individual is enrolled in school, but administrators say they are reviewing their records and encouraging vaccinations to prevent a potential outbreak in their schools.

At Bath, teachers and staff are trained to watch for unusual signs or symptoms of illness, so they can promptly send students to the school nurse if illness is suspected, Superintendent Mike Estes said.

Administrators at Spencerville schools are urging frequent hand washing and proper cleaning, and directing parents to talk with their child's doctor about immunizations.

Other districts like Allen East, where two dozen students are not fully vaccinated against measles, are in communication with Allen County Public Health so they can organize immunization clinics if a case is confirmed in their school.

A Lima News analysis of Ohio Department of Health immunization survey data for Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Putnam and Van Wert counties found at least 355 children who entered kindergarten last fall either claimed an exemption or did not complete paperwork verifying their measles vaccination status at the start of the school year.

Those students may be excused from school for 21 days in an outbreak unless they are vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure to measles, in accordance with state law and Ohio Department of Health recommendations.

Survey data show immunization rates have been declining since the coronavirus pandemic, which popularized concerns about vaccine safety and disrupted access to routine childhood immunizations.

Ohio law requires children to be vaccinated against measles and other preventative diseases before entering kindergarten, but provides exceptions for children who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reactions or whose parents claim conscience or religious objections to the vaccine.

Only 84% of Allen County children who started kindergarten this school year met all immunization requirements. That figure is even lower in Auglaize (83%) and Van Wert (78%) counties.

Few students are claiming medical exemptions from the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which is recommended for children at 12 months and 4-6 years old.

Instead, survey data show parents are either requesting conscience exemptions or failing to submit paperwork verifying their child's vaccination status.

Seven students at the Van Wert Early Childhood Center claimed religious or conscience objections, while 41 didn't finish their paperwork verifying they've finished their measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, according to survey data.

Four students claimed religious or conscience objections at Holy Rosary. Thirteen students at Upper Scioto missed their MMR paperwork.

Students who missed their vaccines at Heir Force Community School had incomplete paperwork, rather than conscience or medical exemptions, according to survey data.

Allen East started the school year with nine incoming kindergarteners whose parents claimed conscience objections for the measles vaccine, while another 21 did not have MMR records on file, according to Ohio Department of Health data.

The school re-audited its immunization records when Allen County's first measles case was reported and found the number of students who hadn't met MMR requirements had declined to 23 students in preschool through fourth grade, Allen East Superintendent Mel Rentschler said.

Nine out of 10 unvaccinated children who are exposed to the virus will become infected, who may be contagious for three weeks before symptoms develop.

One in five children who contract measles will be hospitalized with complications like pneumonia, dehydration, brain swelling or death, Fischer said.

Two doses of the measles vaccine provide 97% protection from the virus.

The vaccine can be administered within 72 hours of exposure to prevent illness or complications, and is available for adults born after 1957 who are unvaccinated or do not know their vaccination status.

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