On Friday, The Connecticut Department of Public Health released immunization information for each school in Connecticut, both public and private, where at least 30 children are enrolled.
Earlier this week, DPH Commissioner Renée Coleman-Mitchell sent a letter in coordination with the Connecticut State Department of Education informing all school administrative and health officials throughout the state about the release of the data. In that letter he said, “While Connecticut’s immunization rate for measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination of kindergarteners remains high at 96.5%, we are also seeing a troubling trend that the number of students entering kindergarten who are not fully immunized is growing,” said DPH Commissioner Coleman-Mitchell. “Our goal in releasing immunization data for each school is to increase public awareness of vaccination rates in local communities. Hopefully, this will lead to more engagement and focus on increasing immunization rates to reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.”
According to the Department, high vaccination rates protect not only vaccinated children but also those who cannot or have not been vaccinated. This is called herd immunity. Schools that achieve herd immunity reduce the risk of outbreaks. High vaccination rates at schools are especially important for medically fragile children. Some children have conditions that affect their immunity, such as illnesses that require chemotherapy. These children cannot be safely vaccinated, and at the same time, they are less able to fight off illness when they are infected. They depend on herd immunity for their health or even their lives.
As of April 26, 2019 at least 704 measles cases have been confirmed nationally in 22 states during 2019. There is currently an active, major measles outbreak in New York City impacting hundreds of families. In Connecticut this year, three measles cases have been confirmed.
Below are the Immunization Exemption Survey results for schools in Stamford, taken in the fall of the 2017-2018 school year, as published here on the CT Department of Public Health website.
Apples Preschool
Religious Exemptions, 15.7%
Medical Exemptions, 1.2%
No Exemptions, 16.9%
Bi-Cultural Day School
Religious Exemptions, 1.0%
Medical Exemptions, 0.7%
No Exemptions, 1.7%
Catholic Academy of Stamford Upper
Religious Exemptions, 0.7%
Medical Exemptions, 0.0%
No Exemptions, 0.7%
Cloonan Middle School
Religious Exemptions: 0.0%
Medical Exemptions: 0.0%
No Exemptions: 0.0%
Davenport Ridge School
Religious Exemptions: 0.3%
Medical Exemptions: 1.1%
No Exemptions: 1.5%
Dolan School
Religious Exemptions: 0.2%
Medical Exemptions: 0.4%
No Exemptions: 0.6%
Hart School
Religious Exemptions: 0.0%
Medical Exemptions: 0.9%
No Exemptions: 0.9%
J. M. Wright Technical High School
Religious Exemptions: 4.2%
Medical Exemptions: 0.7%
No Exemptions: 4.9%
Jewish High School of Connecticut
Religious Exemptions: 0.0%
Medical Exemptions: 0.0%
No Exemptions: 0.0%
Julia A. Stark School
Religious Exemptions: 3.1%
Medical Exemptions: 1.3%
No Exemptions: 4.5%
K. T. Murphy School
Religious Exemptions: 0.4%
Medical Exemptions: 0.4%
No Exemptions: 0.8%
King School
Religious Exemptions: 0.3%
Medical Exemptions: 1.9%
No Exemptions: 2.2%
Mead School
Religious Exemptions: 1.4%
Medical Exemptions: 6.8%
No Exemptions: 8.2%
Newfield School
Religious Exemptions: 0.2%
Medical Exemptions: 0.7%
No Exemptions: 0.9%
Northeast School
Religious Exemptions: 2.1%
Medical Exemptions: 1.4%
No Exemptions: 3.5%
Rippowam Middle School
Religious Exemptions: 0.4%
Medical Exemptions: 0.5%
No Exemptions: 1.0%
Rogers International
Religious Exemptions: 1.7%
Medical Exemptions: 2.8%
No Exemptions: 4.5%
Roxbury School
Religious Exemptions: 0.0%
Medical Exemptions: 0.8%
No Exemptions: 0.8%
Scofield Middle School
Religious Exemptions: 1.5%
Medical Exemptions: 1.2%
No Exemptions: 2.7%
Springdale School
Religious Exemptions: 2.6%
Medical Exemptions: 1.3%
No Exemptions: 3.9%
Stamford Academy
Religious Exemptions: 0.0%
Medical Exemptions: 0.6%
No Exemptions: 0.6%
Stamford Charter School for Excellence
Religious Exemptions: 0.0%
Medical Exemptions: 0.0%
No Exemptions: 0.0%
Stamford High School
Religious Exemptions: 0.5%
Medical Exemptions: 0.5%
No Exemptions: 0.9%
Stillmeadow Elementary School
Religious Exemptions: 0.5%
Medical Exemptions: 0.9%
No Exemptions: 1.4%
Strawberry Hill School
Religious Exemption: 0.3%
Medical Exemptions: 2.3%
No Exemptions: 2.6%
The Academy of Information Technology
Religious Exemptions: 0.0%
Medical Exemptions: 1.4%
No Exemptions: 1.4%
The Catholic Academy of Stamford Lower
Religious Exemptions: 1.0%
Medical Exemptions: 0.0%
No Exemptions: 1.0%
The Children’s School
Religious Exemptions: 5.6%
Medical Exemptions: 3.2%
No Exemptions: 8.7%
The Long Ridge School
Religious Exemptions: 4.5%
Medical Exemptions: 4.5%
No Exemptions: 9.0%
The Pinnacle School
Religious Exemptions: 2.4%
Medical Exemptions: 0.0%
No Exemptions: 2.4%
The Spire School
Religious Exemptions: 0.0%
Medical Exemptions: 0.0%
No Exemptions: 0.0%
Toquam Magnet School
Religious Exemptions: 0.3%
Medical Exemptions: 0.5%
No Exemptions: 0.8%
Trailblazers Academy
Religious Exemptions: 0.0%
Medical Exemptions: 0.0%
No Exemptions: 0.0%
Trinity Catholic High School
Religious Exemptions: 0.0%
Medical Exemptions: 0.3%
No Exemptions: 0.3%
Turn of River School
Religious Exemptions: 0.6%
Medical Exemptions: 0.3%
No Exemptions: 0.9%
Villa Maria Education Center
Religious Exemptions: 0.0%
Medical Exemptions: 2.0%
No Exemptions: 2.0%
Waterside School
Religious Exemptions: 0.7%
Medical Exemptions: 1.4%
No Exemptions: 2.1%
Westhill High School
Religious Exemptions: 0.1%
Medical Exemptions: 0.2%
No Exemptions: 0.4%
Westover School
Religious Exemptions: 1.2%
Medical Exemptions: 1.5%
No Exemptions: 2.6%
NOTE: Typically survey results for the current school year will not be available until the summer or fall of the next school year.
(Information from The Connecticut Department of Public Health)