By Qingxuan Bao
Editor’s note: Part two in an investigative series on the recent measles outbreak in the United States.
Long Island school officials are ramping up their measles prevention plans as confirmed cases rise around the country. With students moving between districts, attending events and participating in after-school programs, officials are working to minimize risks by reviewing vaccination records, updating emergency plans and reaching out to families.
Barbara Gant-Johnson, district nurse for the Hempstead Union Free School District, said the outbreak “has not affected Nassau County yet, but we’ve had two suspected cases in Suffolk.” Across the Island, nurses and administrators are taking steps to assess readiness and ensure communication with families.
The measles outbreak gained national attention earlier this year when a child in Texas died of the disease. As of May 8, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,001 confirmed cases across 31 jurisdictions, including New York City and New York State, with 93% (928 cases) linked to active outbreaks. Health experts warn that declining vaccination rates in certain communities are increasing the risk of disease spread.
Hempstead’s plan
In the Hempstead School District, Gant-Johnson helps oversee student health across several schools, including Barack Obama Elementary, David Paterson Fulton Elementary, Front Street Elementary and Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle schools, among others. Each school has its own nurse, and Gant-Johnson serves as the district nurse supporting them. She said they meet monthly to share updates, including recent alerts about measles.
Gant-Johnson said that since early spring, the district has made immunization tracking a top priority. “I just make sure [the students] are up to date on their physicals and their immunizations,” she said. “That’s what I collect all year long.” Students who do not submit proof of vaccination are given warnings and deadlines.
If records are still missing, Gant-Johnson said the law allows schools to remove students temporarily. “If they don’t [get vaccinated] by the law, we can exclude them until they get the immunization,” she said.
To improve communication with families, the district offers translated materials and uses interpretation devices for in-person meetings. “We have an interpreting device that will interpret whatever language the person speaks,” Gant-Johnson said, “so no one is left out.” She also meets with parents at PTA meetings to explain health updates and vaccine requirements.
Long Island Lutheran’s take
At Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School (LuHi), nurse Linda Carroll is the only full-time health staff member for the 420-plus-student school. “LuHi students, they do have to have the measles vaccine to attend school,” she said. Students must show proof of immunization as part of the enrollment process, and those without it are not allowed to begin classes.
Carroll said vaccines are critical. “Actually, it’s mandated by New York State,” she said. “You have to have the vaccine.”
Though LuHi does not offer on-campus vaccinations, Carroll said she guides students to local doctors and clinics. At the same time, language assistance is also provided. The school has employees who speak different languages. When international students encounter problems, the school can provide language translation assistance. “That’s for our international students,” she said.
If a student were ever to show symptoms such as rash or high fever, Carroll must act immediately. “They would have to go home right away . . . They have to go to the hospital, probably I’m sure,” she said.
Regional oversight
Robert Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association, which represents 115 school boards across the region, said most districts already have systems in place to respond if measles cases reach their schools.
“There is a coordinated communication between the local departments of health and
the school districts,” he said.
Vecchio emphasized that the measles vaccination is required under New York State law, noting, “Measles vaccination is one of the required vaccinations that students are supposed to have prior to entering schools.”
He added, “Schools will contact families directly who have not submitted what’s required.”
Vecchio also said language support varies by district. “Most school issues will have a program to translate into the language that’s at home,” he said, but added that even when full translation teams are not available, districts prepare written materials in multiple languages so families can understand what is needed.
Vecchio also said New York State offers a health insurance plan for kids. “In New York State, if a student comes from a lower-income family and health insurance is not available, the state offers Child Health Plus to make sure children or students are covered,” he said. “So there really should be no barrier to getting the immunizations that are required.”
From his perspective, the biggest priority is consistent communication. “From a school district role, it’s just continuing to inform and educate [and] focus what’s required and needed,” Vecchio said.
