The Health Officer said there is a growing thought that vaccination is an individual decision and not a public health decision. Doctor Ryder has worked out a plan along with Mariposa County Schools Superintendent Robin Hopper to make sure the children in the schools are fully immunized.
There are currently 1,700 students and approximately 10% (170) are not fully immunized. The Health Officer said Mariposa County lags behind the nation and many California counties in immunization rates.
On Wednesday, February 11th a letter will be mailed to all parents alerting them of the program and encouraging the parents to bring their child in and younger children in the home who are not in school and could be under vaccinated. Calls will also go out to the parents of the 170 children who are not fully immunized. Parents who have opted not to vaccinate their children will be encouraged to report to the clinics to get their children vaccinated. The charter schools will also be contacted.
The clinics will begin on Tuesday, February 17th as the health team visit the schools.
The clinics at the schools will be for the measles vaccination but parents are encouraged to bring their medical records to make sure their children are up to date on all their vaccinations.
