KCSD Measles Vaccination Rates High

Students need to be up-to-date on all immunizations by Feb. 20 to avoid school exclusion

About 98 percent of students in the Klamath County School District have been vaccinated against the measles, according to district records, but with the recent measles outbreak in Clark County, Wash., parents should still make sure their child’s immunizations are current.

“A measles outbreak is serious, and parents should be concerned if their child is not up-to-date on vaccinations,” said Glen Szymoniak, superintendent of the Klamath County School District. He added that if students in a school building are exposed to measles, there is little that can be done to prevent its spread among unvaccinated students.

Klamath County Public Health officials are closely monitoring the measles outbreak in Clark County, Wash., and health officials are urging all residents to check their immunization status.

“Immunizations protect communities,” said Jennifer Little, Klamath County Public Health director, in a press release about the outbreak. “We all count on our community members to be immunized to ensure outbreaks of severe illness do not occur.”

Vaccinations are required for public school students, and the county health department will be sending letters Feb. 6 to parents whose children are missing or not up-to-date on vaccinations. For a list of required vaccinations, click here. En espanol, click here. Children not in compliance with vaccine requirements will be excluded from school Feb. 20.

Students enrolled in the Klamath County School District needing immunizations may visit the new school based health center on the Mazama High School campus, 3013 Summers Lane. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays.

The state of Oregon provides medical and nonmedical exemptions to vaccinations. Physicians can sign medical exemptions for children with valid contraindications to an immunization. Some people choose not to vaccinate for personal, religious, or philosophical reasons can claim a nonmedical exemption to some or all immunizations.