LA Cracks Down On Schools Lax About Mandatory Vaccinations

LOS ANGELES, CA—The Los Angeles City attorney put 17 kindergartens that aren't being open about student vaccination rates on notice this week. These schools could face legal action if they don't comply with the state's mandatory vaccination law, according Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer.

The crackdown announced Thursday comes as the nation confronts a measles outbreak, and Los Angeles health officials wage battle to keep the highly contagious virus from getting a foothold here. Health officials worked tirelessly in May and June to keep a handful of infected travelers and college students from spreading measles across the county.

"It's never been more important for schools to report whether their students have been vaccinated," Feuer said. "Proper and timely reporting isn't optional, it's mandatory and for good reason, if we are to protect the health and safety of young children and their families."

According to the city attorney, and his office and county health officials sent letters to 17 Los Angeles area kindergartens that had either not submitted a report in the past two school years or had not submitted a report for 2018-2019 and have a history of not submitting a report for two or more consecutive school years since 2015.

Each fall, every kindergarten in California is required to file an Annual Immunization Assessment report to the California Department of Public Health to identify and intervene in disease outbreaks, including measles.

The letters are intended to remind the school administrators of their responsibilities under state law and seek greater compliance, Feuer said.

Feuer was joined by officials from Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials when he made the announcement, citing an "unprecedented" rise in the number of reported diseases in California that could be prevented with vaccination.

"Private schools in the city of Los Angeles that continue to violate reporting requirements could potentially face civil lawsuits by the City Attorney's Office," Feuer said.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.