LAWRENCE CO. Schools push to prevent measles

Schoolchildren in Union, Neshannock and Laurel schools all have the second inoculation.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- There could be as many as 50 Lawrence County schoolchildren missing from class next month if they don't get their second inoculation against measles.
A Pennsylvania Department of Health mandate calls for all schoolchildren from kindergarten through grade 12 to have a second dose of measles vaccine by May or face being barred from school.
The second shot, usually given with doses of mumps and rubella vaccine, is an effort to prevent any outbreaks, according to state health officials.
Lawrence County school officials say they have been hounding parents with letters, telephone calls and even withholding pupils' grade reports to get them to comply.
The tactics appear to be successful, as only a handful of schoolchildren in most districts need the second inoculation for measles.
Districts' report: School nurses at Union, Neshannock and Laurel school districts report all of their pupils have been inoculated.
Mohawk has about 14 that still need the shot; Wilmington, 12; Ellwood City, two; and Shenango has one pupil without the measles shot.
New Castle School District reported last week that about 25 kids still needed the vaccination.
"All they have to do is go and get the thing. Even if they have an appointment [by May 1] we will accept it," said Nick DeRosa, assistant schools superintendent at New Castle.
DeRosa said the district has resorted to calling relatives and doctors listed on emergency cards for the schoolchildren to ensure the children get their measles shots.
The district plans to count anyone without the shot by May 1 as an unexcused absence with parents facing time in court, he said.
"Parents will face fines for neglect. We have steps we can take at the magistrate. That's what this [not having the shots] really is: neglect," he said.
Significance: State health officials say there are only a few cases of measles reported each year in Pennsylvania, but they want to vaccinate the pupil population to prevent any future outbreaks.
Richard McGarvey, state health department spokesman, said studies show that a second dose of the vaccine gives children about 99 percent protection from the disease.
"It virtually eliminates that child from having measles. It isn't a problem in Pennsylvania. We only have one or two cases of measles a year, but we want to prevent any outbreaks in the future," he said.
The last large outbreak occurred in 1989 when about 3,000 schoolchildren came down with the measles, he said.
Local school nurses say they will continue hounding parents until they get their children immunized.
"As much as this is such a pain to get all the paperwork done, I really think it's in children's best interest. In the long run, it's in all of our best interests if we can make sure everyone is immunized. We won't have to worry about this disease in the future," said Cindy Martin, elementary school nurse in the Mohawk School District.
McGarvey said the state does offer free or low-cost vaccinations at its clinics. For more information, call (877) 724-3258.