Cincinnati vaccination rate 'very good' despite recent outbreaks

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The vaccination rate in Cincinnati is very good, despite recent nationwide outbreaks of diseases such as measles and chickenpox, according to a lead epidemiologist in the area.

Diseases such as measles and chickenpox are preventable by vaccines, but while many children are required to receive vaccines in order to attend school, there some exemptions for religious and health concerns.

Isolated cases of mumps and measles have mainly been linked to someone getting the infection outside the country and bringing it to the United States.

"We have frequently, almost every year we have isolated cases of chicken pox, you can actually have breakthrough chicken pox, even if you are vaccinated," Sharon Hutchins, Cincinnati Health Department epidemiologist, said. "So sometimes it's that case, or a young child is exposed to a grandparent who has shingles, caused by the same virus. So, all of us that are older and didn't have the vaccine but had chicken pox, that can come back out in the form of shingles. So we sometimes see that kind of transmission as well."

Recently, there were 32 cases of chickenpox at Assumption Academy in Walton. Many of those cases were in children who were not vaccinated.

The Northern Kentucky Health Department put guidelines in place for students not to return to school for 21 days after a rash or potential case of chickenpox.

Vaccines can be given at your doctor's office. Also, officials say that the shingles vaccine may protect others as well as your own health.