Unvaccinated students in Rockland County

ROCKLAND, N.Y. – The Commissioner of the Rockland County Department of Health has issued a letter stating that they are at home.

The letter, sentenced to schools where students have confirmed cases of measles, requires students within the schools who are not vaccinated.

During a disease outbreak, health officials are authorized by law to require unvaccinated students to stay home.

There are currently 11 confirmed cases of measles in Rockland County, according to health officials.

They are considered protected against measles if they received the Measles Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are required for a student to remain in school.

• Students who have received their first dose of MMR vaccine as of October 18, 2018: Any student who has not received their first dose of MMR vaccine can not wait to attend school for 21 days after the last date of exposure, which is the date of October 12, 2018. 3. 2018, even if they receive their first dose of MMR vaccine during this time period.
• K-12 students with 1 dose of MMR vaccine as of October 18, 2018: Students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, with 1 dose of MMR vaccine should remain home until November 3, 2018, unless they receive their second dose of MMR vaccine. These students may return at any time after receiving this second dose.
• Pre-kindergarten students with 1 dose of MMR as of October 18, 2018: Students in prekindergarten with 1 dose of MMR are up-to-date and need to stay home from school. However, it is recommended that they receive a second dose of MMR vaccine.

Rockland County's Department of Health will assist you with your daily life.

These measures are necessary to protect unvaccinated students from measles. I recommend that they be unvaccinated or under-vaccinated as soon as they are able to receive their first or second dose of MMR vaccine, "said Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert. "We want these students to be able to return to their places of learning and to encourage them to continue their coursework from home."

Check with your health care provider to see if you are up-to-date with your measles vaccination.

You can also expect the Health Department's free MMR vaccine clinics:

• Friday, October 19th from 9:30 am to 11:30 am at Pascack Community Center, 87 New Clarkstown Road, Nanuet NY

Call 845-364-2997 for more information about the MMR vaccine clinics. For information about measles, call the New York State Department of Health's Measles Information Line at (888) 364-4837.