PINECREST, Fla. – Some students at Miami Palmetto Senior High School say they’re reducing social interactions amid concerns over a confirmed case of measles.
Officials confirmed Tuesday that the infected person is a student at the Pinecrest campus and, according to flhealthcharts.gov, the patient is between the ages of 15 and 19.
“Just stay away from people,” Matthew Zavala, a ninth grader, said. “Separate yourself.”
Although Zavala feels protected, he said he remains concerned for those who are not vaccinated.
“See, I know I’m good,” he said. “I’m worried about the other people that don’t have their shot.”
On Tuesday, an email was sent to Zavala’s parents and others, alerting them to the situation.
“Yeah, they called me while I was on the way home talking about, ‘Oh, you know your school got measles?’ I was like, ‘What?’ It was crazy,” he said.
Related link: State immunization guidelines
This marks the first reported case in Florida, adding to a growing list of 10 states, including Texas, where an unvaccinated child died.
Andrew Azaret, a freshman, noted the potential for rapid spread.
“Well, a lot of people are close together and we’re all right here, so it can spread really quickly,” Azaret said.
Letter to parents:
Doctors assured parents that if a child is fully vaccinated, there is no cause for concern.
“I wasn’t too scared for myself,” Tristan Carr, a sophomore, said. “I was more scared for others.”
For those whose children are not vaccinated, doctors recommend, “Now would be a good time to go ahead and get them vaccinated.”
An email from the school’s principal states that the Florida Department of Health will be hosting a free MMR immunization drive at the school’s campus during the week of March 10 “for for any unvaccinated student whose parents provide consent.”
Measles Q&A
Local 10 News asked South Florida doctors some common questions about measles. Here are their answers.
- How much protection does a measles vaccine afford and how long does it last? “Most high school students should have had two by then and with those two vaccines, it is a 97% prevention of contracting measles even if exposed so it is a highly effective vaccine. The prevention and immunity is lifelong. They typically don’t recommend re-vaccination if you had those two doses.” - Dr. Drew Stoudt, Gables Pediatrics
- Let’s say you are an unvaccinated student and now decide to get a measles shot in light of this case, how long before it “kicks in,” so to speak, and have some protection? “One dose of the vaccine provides 93% protection, and on average it takes about 10 days for the antibodies to be detected. However, even if you get the first dose within 3 days of exposure to a case of measles, you will reduce your chances of getting measles and especially of getting a more severe case of measles. So the vaccine works pretty fast and one dose is actually quite effective, although two doses gives you 97% protection. This means that in general 97 out of 100 people vaccinated have full protection after 2 doses.” - Dr. Jyoti Somani, Jackson Health System medical director of infectious diseases
- The measles vaccine, from what we understand from a pediatrician, is administered in two shots at approximately the ages of 1 and 4 - if you are a student, a teen let’s say, who now wants to be vaccinated, how much protection would you have after the first shot and how long would you need to wait before receiving the second shot? “Your chances of being fully protected after one dose is high at 93%, that goes up to 97% after two doses. The second dose in an unvaccinated teenager can be given at least 28 days after the first dose. So you can schedule the second dose 30 days or later after the first dose.” - Dr. Jyoti Somani, Jackson Health System medical director of infectious diseases
- “I am caring for my 85-year-old mom at home. If my kid now comes home sick from school with the measles, can it be transmitted to my elderly mother and what impact could that have on her?” “Anyone born before 1957 who survived the measles is immune.” - Dr. Aileen Marty, infectious diseases professor at Florida International University
- “I received the measles vaccine when I was a kid, do I need to get an updated shot as an adult?” “There is no need to get an updated shot unless you are going to travel to a place which has high rates for measles or if you are living in a place with a measles outbreak. In that case, you could consider a booster, especially if you are older.” - Dr. Jyoti Somani, Jackson Health System medical director of infectious diseases
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has a Q&A section on its webpage.
