Vaccination Questions Arise After Local Measles, Mumps Outbreaks In SoCal

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Vaccines provide protection against dangerous infectious diseases and save lives, according to Orange County Public Health Care Agency. Vaccines, typically given from birth through adulthood, aid in lowering risk of getting sick from exposure to varying illnesses.

However, recent cases of measles at the Laguna Beach High School and mumps at the Chapman College of Law have drawn questions on how effective vaccines are when battling these types of infectious diseases.

In late March, several Laguna Beach High School Students were sent home or quarantined after coming into direct contact with another student diagnosed with the measles. Those students were listed as "exempt" from vaccinations by the LBUSD.

Following protocol, the OC Public Health Care Agency learned of the person infected with measles on March 29 and contacted all students and staff who came into close contact with the infected party. Measles, a highly contagious illness, spreads easily through the air and through direct contact.

"There were eight students who were excluded by the OC Public Health Care Agency," said Leisa Winston, assistant superintendent of the LBUSD. "One of those students produced proof of vaccination and was permitted to return."

Those students were excluded from school due to rejection of vaccines, whether for a physical or personal belief. According to Winston, over 80 students at LBHS are listed as exempt from vaccination. District wide, LBUSD has 241 students currently listed as exempt from vaccination.

"These are not all 100 percent waivers," Winston said. "Some are all waived/exempted and some are partial, with some vaccinations and others waived/exempted."

Laguna Beach is just one district dealing with personal belief exemptions submitted before Jan. 1, 2016. Those exemptions remain valid until a student reaches seventh grade, according to Winston.

Under Senate Bill 277, a new state vaccination law, parents can no longer refuse to vaccinate their children based upon personal belief. Children must be vaccinated against:

According to Deputy Health Officer Dr. Helene Calvet of Orange County Public Health Care Agency, while the MMR (Mumps, Measles, and Rubella) vaccination is safe and highly effective, no vaccine offers 100 percent protection against infection.

"Receiving two doses of MMR offers the greatest protection available for all children," Calvet said in a letter to parents of the Laguna Beach Unified School District. She directed all to make sure that immunizations are up to date, both for parents and children.

At Chapman University in Orange, six confirmed cases of mumps were reported from January 26 to April 1 of this year.

"Most of these students were fully vaccinated, which is what is consistent with what is being seen in college outbreaks around the country over the past few years," OC Health Care Agency stated. "The OC Health Care Agency in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health, recommends a third measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) dose to all Chapman University students who previously received two doses of MMR vaccine. The third dose is recommended to increase protection for potential future exposures. All students who have received zero or one dose of MMR vaccine should receive catch up vaccination."

The long incubation period of the mumps will have the OC Health Care Agency continue monitoring with Chapman University for several weeks to spot any additional cases.

When asked by Patch, Calvet shared her view on valid medical exemptions from vaccination.

"It is important to note that some students have valid medical exemptions in place when it comes to vaccination," Calvet said. "That said, the best way to prevent the measles and other diseases (for both yourself and the community as a whole) is by getting vaccinated."

While it’s still possible to get the measles if you’ve been vaccinated, it’s far less likely, and chances are the disease is not as bad, according to Calvet.

"In general, you are less contagious to others (after being vaccinated)," she said. "Vaccine is widely available to the community, including free and low-cost vaccines."

Find more information at: http://www.ochealthinfo.com

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