Every weekday, children and adults are getting a shot in the arm, not in a traditional doctor’s office but at two clinics operated by Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS). With the news that a Louisville teenager has contracted measles and outbreaks in two other states, JCPS health officials are encouraging families to get vaccinated with the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
JCPS Health Services Manager Dr. Eva Stone said about 9,100 students (almost 10 percent of JCPS' enrolled students) were not fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine last school year. But there’s some good news. The measles vaccination data is a good indicator of the number of children who have not received all vaccines, and that number was nearly 20,000 five years ago, according to a JCPS review of immunization data. Stone attributes the improved vaccination rates to JCPS’ aggressive outreach with Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW), and the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) to identify solutions and address the gaps affecting children living in poverty.
Kentucky requires that students have a current immunization certificate on file within two weeks of starting school. However, many circumstances can prevent families from meeting this requirement. They may lack transportation, health insurance, or a medical provider. Their children could also be assigned a Medicaid provider who does not participate in the state’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which provides free vaccines to children living in poverty.
JCPS is now a provider in the state’s VFC program, and the district's nursing staff offers free vaccinations to eligible students. Clinics are held in schools, and JCPS operates two community-based clinics—at the C.B. Young Building on Crittenden Dr. and the South Central Neighborhood Place—where families can bring their children for vaccinations, even during the summer. Last year, JCPS nurses administered more than 6,200 vaccine doses.
“Getting vaccinated is the most important and easiest thing to do to avoid getting measles, which are highly contagious and can be extremely dangerous,” Stone said. “I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get your child fully vaccinated to protect them against measles and other childhood diseases.”
Students who are unvaccinated and exposed to measles will be required to quarantine (and miss school) for 21 days.
JCPS school nurses and nurse practitioners also conduct outreach to families whose children do not have up-to-date vaccination records at school. Families who have questions about their child’s vaccination status can contact the JCPS Health & Wellness Office at (502) 485-3387. Those with Medicaid or no health insurance can also schedule an appointment to get vaccinated by calling the same number.
By Mark Hebert