- Warning to Unvaccinated Students: Self-Isolate for Three Weeks
- London’s Vulnerability to Measles Outbreak
- The 21-Day Seclusion Period: A Preventative Measure
Councils may order students without two measles vaccines to self-isolate for three weeks.
Authorities in England have issued letters to the parents of school-aged children, urging them to verify that their youngsters have had both doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.
If a sick student attends school, unprotected students risk being expelled for 21 days to avoid illness. It poses a threat to the education of children, who were barred from school for months during the pandemic.
Due to an upsurge in measles cases, authorities have reminded parents of this 2019 UKHSA guidance.
Health experts worry about a 160,000-person MMR outbreak in London, which has the lowest vaccination rate.
The Barnet Council in London is one of three authorities that have warned parents that their child could be isolated from school for three weeks if they are identified as a close contact of a measles patient.
Now is a good opportunity to check that your child’s MMR vaccination – which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella – is up-to-date, as there is an increase in measles cases circulating in neighboring London boroughs.
“Any youngster who is a close contact of a measles patient without vaccination may be self-isolated for 21 days.”
Children who have been immunized are not required to be excluded from school or creche.
Hertfordshire County Council sent a similar letter to parents of unvaccinated children, informing them of the prospective 21-day exclusion period.
This letter added: “Measles can be contracted after 15 minutes of close contact.”
A comparable letter was sent by Haringey Council, a neighboring municipality.
This correspondence was also sent between June and July.
The 21-day seclusion period is based on UKHSA recommendations published in 2019.
It states that if a measles case is identified, health teams will collaborate with schools to determine the best course of action for close contacts who have not received both MMR vaccinations.
This may include an offer of MMR vaccination, the administration of measles-preventive medication to close contacts of the child with a vulnerable health condition, and a potential exclusion for up to 21 days.
Siblings of an unvaccinated child who has been in contact with a measles case may be urged to isolate.
Officials have stated, however, that this isolation is not as severe as that imposed during the Covid pandemic.
Children would be prohibited from school and instructed not to interact with other children or those deemed vulnerable. Including infants, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals. However, they are still able to depart their homes for other activities.
Health experts said the three-week quarantine prevents measles from spreading to children, which might increase critical illness.
Dr. Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, stated, “Measles is highly contagious and can be fatal, especially in immunocompromised individuals, infants, and pregnant women.”
“Cases are advised to stay away from nursery, school, or work for at least four days after the rash first appears to prevent the spread of the infection.”
