This is a copy of the email sent to all families on Sunday 22 September.
To Staff, Students and Parents at Wellington High School,
You are being contacted urgently today as you/your child may NOT be able to attend school tomorrow (Monday 23 September). This is because a person at the school has been diagnosed with measles. Measles is highly infectious, including before the rash develops. To stop measles spreading, students and staff who were in the classes listed below on Monday 16 September need to confirm they have had at least 1 measles vaccine (MMR) given after 12 months of age or doctor diagnosed measles.
Students and staff in the classes below on Monday 16 September who cannot confirm they are protected from measles are NOT to attend school tomorrow (Monday 23 September) and for the rest of the week.
- Period 1 – Year 12 Chemistry class in room S304 with Ms Lowe at 8.45am
- Rōpū – 12MKK in D212 with Ms Merrick at 9.40am
- Period 2 – Year 12 Hospitality class in room E211 with Ms Randall at 10.00am
- Period 3 – Year 12 Biology class in room S204 with Ms MacFarlane at 11.20am
- Period 4 & 5 – Year 12 Psychology class in room M409 at with Ms Potter at 12.20pm and 2.20pm
If your student was in any of these classes last Monday, please provide a copy of their immunisation record to the school as soon as possible. You can email it to admin@whs.school.nz. Please include ‘Measles immunisation information for [Student Name]’ in the subject line.
This information can be found:
a. Wellchild book or Plunket book
b. Asking your medical centre for a printout of your/ your child’s immunisations
NOTE: Until this confirmation is provided, staff and students in the above classes need to stay at home and away from public places eg cinema, shopping mall, sports grounds and not use buses or trains until the end of Monday 30 September.
The measles vaccine (MMR) is given at 15 months of age and 4 years; students who can confirm they have had at least one of these MMR vaccine can continue with school and all their usual activities.
We realise this is very disruptive and only take this action because measles is a highly infectious and serious viral illness. Public health nurses will be available by telephone (04-570 9002) tonight until 7:30pm and will be onsite at the school tomorrow morning and will be able to assist with any questions.
Thank you for your cooperation and assistance to stop measles spreading in your school and wider Wellington.
Yours sincerely
Dr Annette Nesdale
Medical Officer of Health
Regional Public Health