PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — In the wake of two recent measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania, the city and school district are reminding parents that vaccines are safe — and required.
Vaccination rates are down and measles cases are up, said Dr. Ala Stanford. She said it’s not a mystery; it’s arithmetic. Speaking at a news conference Thursday at Benjamin Franklin High School, where her Black Doctors Consortium was running a vaccination clinic, Stanford stressed that a 95% vaccination rate is needed to keep measles from spreading.
“Pennsylvania is at about 93%, and not one county in this region is at 95%,” she said.
It’s a vaccination trend being seen across the country.
“What we’ve seen is what we’re seeing nationally as well and across our state,” said Dr. Kendra McDow, chief medical officer of the Philadelphia School District. “We are seeing in real time the tragic consequences of children and adolescents not getting vaccinated.
“The good thing, though, in Philadelphia is that we do have resources. We have great health care partners.”
The emphasis on immunizations comes after state health officials announced the measles-related deaths of two people, including a newborn, in Lancaster County earlier this week. Both were unvaccinated.
The state has confirmed more than 400 cases of the virus this year in 28 Pennsylvania counties — 197 of them in Lancaster County and 41 in Chester County.
The new school year got underway this week. Students have 30 days to get state-required vaccinations against measles and other diseases.
The city and district are offering vaccination clinics, especially at schools with low rates. McDow reminded parents that children can be excluded from school without their state-required shots.
Pa. health officials announced two measles-related deaths in Lancaster County earlier this week
Pa. health officials announced two measles-related deaths in Lancaster County earlier this week
