Liberty, NY – The Sullivan County Department of Public Health Services would like to clarify that valid medical exemptions allow children and camp staff to attend summer camp.
“Children and adults who cannot receive the measles vaccine for medically authorized reasons are still allowed to attend camp in Sullivan County, consistent with Public Health Order No. 1 of 2019,” notes Sullivan County Public Health Director Nancy McGraw.
“While there is no longer a religious exemption allowed to attend schools and day cares in New York State, the medical exemption remains legally authorized,” she states. “That means that children and adults who have a valid medical exemption by a physician are not restricted from attending a local camp unless the camp owner’s own policy prohibits it.”
According to the New York State Department of Health, a valid medical exemption must:
1. Be on a sample medical exemption form issued by the Department (www.health.ny.gov/forms/doh-5077.pdf) or the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, or on a signed statement that certifies that the immunization may be detrimental to a child’s health;
2. Be signed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in New York State;
3. Contain sufficient information to identify the medical contraindication to a specific immunization. The Department recommends that health care practitioners consult the ACIP guidelines for contraindications and precautions to childhood vaccinations, available at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/contraindications.html. (Please note that the guidelines contain all ACIP recommended vaccines, including some that are not currently required for schools and child day care programs in New York State); and
4. Be confirmed annually.
Sullivan County’s Public Health Order No. 1 of 2019 requires all other campers and staff members at NYS-regulated summer camps in the County to present acceptable proof of measles immunization or pending immunization. The full text of that order can be found at www.sullivancountyny.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1420.
“While it is not required by this Public Health Order, we are also strongly recommending that any child age 4 years old and older who has not received their second MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella) vaccination do so before arriving at summer camp,” says McGraw.
In collaboration with State and Federal authorities, Sullivan County Public Health Services continues to closely monitor and respond to measles cases, which to date have numbered nine locally. Both residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to become familiar with measles, its transmission, and what to do in suspect cases. Further info is available at www.sullivanny.us/departments/publichealth/measles or by calling the New York State Measles Hotline at 888-364-4837.