Exclusion Day numbers down in Deschutes County

In Oregon, Wednesday was Exclusion Day, the day to children were sent home from school or daycare if they have not had the proper immunizations or updated their records. Deschutes County Health Services saw the numbers drop from last year.

In 2014, Bend-La Pine Schools had to send home 76 students for not being caught up, and on Wednesday sent home only 55. The Redmond School District sent home 81 in 2014, and sent home just 34 on Wednesday.

“I think it has been (in) the media a lot, with the measles circulating around us,” said Deschutes County Health Immunization Coordinator Jill Johnson.

At Growing Tree Children’s Center in Bend, 100 percent of its nearly 100 children had completed the proper forms and immunizations.

“All the cases that we’ve had have gone and taken care of [the paperwork],” said the day care’s assistant director, Staci Elder. “Either they’re doing a non-medical exemption or catching up and making an appointment.”

County health officials also credited nurses for being proactive about calling parents and giving them plenty of notice before Exclusion Day.

If children do not have up-to-date immunizations, then they either need a properly completed non-exempt medical form or a note from a health-care provider.

Learn more here: http://public.health.oregon.gov/PreventionWellness/VaccinesImmunization/GettingImmunized/Pages/school.aspx