Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has offered no specific guidance on whether or not children, especially those unvaccinated against measles, should be attending school amid an outbreak of the highly contagious disease at Manatee Bay Elementary School.
Since the first case of measles came to light last Friday, a total of six cases have been detected at the school in Weston. But the school doors have remained open.
According to Broward Superintendent Peter Licata, who visited the school on Tuesday, there are 33 of 1,067 Manatee Bay students that do not have MMR vaccine “for various reasons.”
The Florida Department of Health visited the school this week offering vaccines.
Amid concerns over the virus, more than 20% of students were out of class Tuesday — 219 out of 1,067 students — as well as six staff members, according to Local 10.
School attendance decision to be made by parents
The DOH wrote a letter to parents and guardians of students at Manatee Bay, saying that “when measles is detected in a school, it is normally recommended that individuals without history of prior infection or vaccination stay home for up to 21 days.”
But in the same letter, signed by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, it said that the decision on whether a child should or shouldn’t attend school during the outbreak should be made by the parents and guardians.
“Due to the high immunity rate in the community, as well as the burden on families and educational cost of healthy children missing school, DOH is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance. This recommendation may change as epidemiological investigations continue,” the letter stated.
Individuals with a history of prior infection or vaccination who have received the full series of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) immunization are 98% protected and are unlikely to contract measles, according to DOH. Up to 90% of individuals without immunity will contract measles if exposed.
“Because of the high likelihood of infection, it is normally recommended that children stay home until the end of the infectious period, which is currently March 7, 2024. As the epidemiological investigation continues, this date could change,” it added.
DOH said that the Broward County School District is prepared to provide “continuous learning to all children at Manatee Bay Elementary School whose parents/guardians choose to keep them at home.”
Read more: Florida health officials investigate measles outbreak in Weston
