Nursery schools tackle measles outbreak

GILLIAN KLAWANSKY

Left untreated, measles can result in blindness, pneumonia, encephalitis and in severe cases, death.

The Department of Health is urging parents to immunise unvaccinated children and to take those who have been vaccinated for a booster, especially since many children remain unimmunised and could further the outbreak. 

In light of this, SA Jewish Report looks at what action Johannesburg’s Jewish nursery schools are taking to prevent children from being infected.

 “Everyone should reimmunise their children; the booster is highly advisable and is not harmful,” says Dr Susan Klugman, a paediatrician at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

Dr Klugman has been in touch with Jewish nursery schools to connect them with the Department of Health who can help facilitate free vaccinations at schools.

“I would advise parents that if the school is getting the Department of Health in, they should take advantage of this, otherwise they should arrange it privately,” she says.

“In the meantime, if your child gets a rash and/or a runny nose and conjunctivitis, can’t look at light and is generally irritable, go to the doctor to get it checked out.”

While some Jewish nursery schools say they’re leaving vaccinations to parents and haven’t had enquiries, others have made efforts to arrange vaccinations at school or have sent out messages encouraging parents to take action.

Yeshiva College Pre-Primary School has communicated with parents via WhatsApp and e-mail. “In line with the Department of Health’s vaccination campaign to manage the current outbreak of measles in Gauteng, we recommend all children to receive the measles booster,” says Ruth Kirkel, the school’s principal. “

This won’t be done at our school, but may be done in private or government facilities. Confirmation by the child’s doctor is suggested. It’s very important that children’s vaccination schedules are kept up-to-date.”

King David Linksfield Pre-Primary School has sent out a letter to parents to make them aware of the outbreak and has informed them of private pharmacy clinic, Kloof Road Dispensary Baby Clinic in Bedfordview which is doing the booster at a special rate of R50.

This school is also in the process of finalising plans with Edenvale Hospital to send nursing sisters to their campus to give boosters at no charge, allowing parents the option of having it administered at school, in which case they’ll need to complete consent forms.

“The booster is not compulsory and it is entirely up to parents,” says school secretary PA Jodine Krok who is arranging vaccinations at the school.

Sydenham Pre-Primary School says they’ve been advised to tell parents to go to clinics in their areas as those clinics won’t be able to administer vaccines at the school itself.

Some parents are having boosters administered privately, while others haven’t taken action, says the school. While Sydenham has sent out updates and encouraged parents to take action with regards to vaccinations and boosters, the decision ultimately remains at the family’s discretion.

King David Rosabelle Klein Nursery School in Waverley, says it has a high rate of immunisation compliance and the school hasn’t had any measles. However, they’re looking at second level immunisation options.

Hirsch Lyons has arranged with the Department of Health to have vaccinations administered at the school but has had issues in confirming a date on which nursing sisters will come, due to a shortage of equipment and administration issues. Parents have, however, been issued with consent forms and some have completed them while others have arranged private vaccinations.

At Sandton Sinai Primary and Nursery School, they have consulted doctors and recommended that parents ensure their children’s vaccinations are up-to-date or take them privately for boosters. 

While most schools we spoke to do ask to see children’s immunisation records and strongly encourage vaccinations, they do not deny entry to any children whose parents choose not to vaccinate.