Measles, a disease which was eliminated in the United States in 2000 according to CDC’s website, has made a comeback this winter. Since a case appeared in Cook County this January, the district is making an effort to reinforce their current policies about vaccinations.

In order for students to attend school, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) requires a minimum number of vaccinations. The only exceptions to this rule are medical objections or religious objections, according to Adrienne Casanova, nurse.

“If it’s medical or religious, we need documentation to show the state. It’s not just a school requirement, it’s an IDPH requirement,” Casanova said.

According to the LZ95 Parent-Student Handbook, “[Measles’] complications can be serious. Students will be excluded from school seven days after rash appearance and until nasal and mouth discharges have cleared up. A physician’s note is required for re-entry. Exposed students may attend school if immunized. Those not immunized will be excluded from school.”

Depending on the disease, the number of days non-vaccinated that students must be excluded varies. For measles, according to the IDPH, non-vaccinated students must wait 21 days after the onset of the last reported case to return, or receive the vaccine if he or she wants to return earlier.

“We send out letters and notifications to everyone who has an objection to a vaccine. If I was a parent of a student who was not vaccinated, I would hope the school would notify me,” Casanova said.

For more information on measles and how our district might be affected, visit the district webpage.