PORT TOWNSEND — School districts in East Jefferson County are poised for a possible measles outbreak, warning parents that if any student in a school is diagnosed with measles, then all those who are not vaccinated against the disease will be required to stay home for three weeks.
No cases of measles have been confirmed in Jefferson County, although authorities are awaiting the results of one test.
Results also are awaited of tests given to three residents of Clallam County, which has had two confirmed cases of measles.
The Jefferson County Department of Health prepared a letter this week for distribution to parents, informing them that if a case of measles is linked to a school, all unvaccinated children in that school will be excluded for 21 days — the longest possible incubation period for the highly contagious virus.
The letter, dated Feb. 11, informs parents that vaccinations are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at the Jefferson Healthcare Primary Care Clinic, 915 Sheridan St.
Vaccination appointments are required and are available by calling 360-379-8031.
There is no charge for a vaccine, but an administration fee will be billed to the patient’s insurance, the letter states.
Schools track children as to whether they are fully vaccinated, unvaccinated or exempt from certain procedures.
County schools are distributing the letters differently, with some sending them out to all students and others targeting those who would be affected by an outbreak.
Chimacum High School Principal Whitney Meissner said the school sent out about 40 letters to high school students and has called on all staff members to supply proof of vaccinations or get a booster shot.
“I’m not worried about this,” Meissner said.
“We need to follow the guidelines from our public health department, which might not always be convenient but will help us to reduce the risk of exposure or a broader epidemic.”
The Chimacum School system has three other schools — a primary, grade school and middle school — all distributing the letters to all the parents in the district.
The Port Townsend School District’s three schools each took a different tack.
At Grant Street Elementary, the letters were sent to about 20 students who were out of compliance, according to Principal Mary Sepler.
Blue Heron Middle School sent the letters home with all the students in a way that protected the student’s privacy, according to Principal Diane Lashinsky.
“If we had mailed the letters to parents, we would have done this differently,” she said.
“Since we sent the letters home, we didn’t single out those who were unvaccinated because it would be letting everyone know about a personal situation.”
Port Townsend High School posted the letter in the school and on its website but did not actively distribute it, according to school secretary Jan Boutilier.
Quilcene Schools did not receive the letter until Wednesday and will distribute it to those who are out of compliance today, according to district secretary Carrie Thompson.
Thompson said about 4 percent of students in the elementary school and 5 percent of high school students are out of compliance, while the middle school has a 100 percent vaccination rate.
In Brinnon, only one student was notified, according to administrative assistant Donna Prater.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.