Multiple Hudson Valley Counties Banning Unvaccinated Campers

Counties in the Hudson Valley won't allow campers or staff to attend summer camps if they aren't vaccinated from measles.

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Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus and County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman are urging State Legislators to act on legislation (A.2371-a/S.2994-a) which would remove non-medical exemptions from vaccination. At the same time, Orange County has issued two new measles outbreak directing summer camps to take certain actions with respect to staff and campers.

“State Legislators have known about the growing measles epidemic and have failed to act,” Neuhaus said. “They must step up and take action to protect our young people and families.”

The measles outbreak related Commissioner’s orders requests:

· Any summer camp and/or children’s overnight camp operated in Orange County must maintain complete and accurate immunization records of its entire staff, whether paid or unpaid and campers.
· Any camp staff member working, whether paid or unpaid and camper attending the day camp and/or children’s overnight camp who has not received at least his/her first dose of MMR vaccine, and/ or failed to receive the second dose of MMR vaccine, will be excluded from and/or attending.
· Any summer day camp and/or children’s overnight camp operated in Orange County must submit a list of all staff members, whether paid or unpaid, who will work at the summer day camp, and/or children’s overnight camp, and camper who will attend, together with their dates of birth and the dates they received the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine to the Orange County Department of Health.
· If a confirmed case of measles has been identified at your camp, your facility must provide a notarized affirmation, affirmed under the penalties of perjury, identifying the names of partially vaccinated staff members, and campers who will be excluded from your specified summer day camp, and/or children’s overnight camp.

Failure to comply with this Commissioner’s Order can result in legal actions that may include an administrative hearing, civil penalties, a court and/or an injunction, officials say.

There are 35 are confirmed cases of measles in Orange County.

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In related news, Sullivan County officials on Tuesday announced the county will require full measles immunization for staff members and campers at summer camps in Sullivan County.