Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas cares about the health and safety of our community, and we are taking steps to limit risk related to the current measles outbreak.
Vaccination is recommended. Participants without vaccination will need to provide a valid exemption.
The measles vaccine is recommended for protection.
The Texas Department of State Health Services recommends that all summer camp participants have received two doses of the MMR vaccine prior to camp. Please see Protecting Your Child from Measles at Summer Camp.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines Measles Vaccination recommendations among the general population.
The standard GSNETX camp health plan remains unchanged.
Our camp health plan includes collecting a health profile for campers and summer staff, in which individuals upload a copy of their immunization records to show they are fully vaccinated based on school requirements. This is standard practice, not a change in procedure! This plan is in alignment with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Youth Camp Code and American Camp Association accreditation standards.
Texas DSHS follows the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)-recommended vaccine schedule for students. Texas continues to allow exemptions to school vaccine requirements on the basis of the following three conditions: if a healthcare provider deems it unsafe, if they are in the US military, or if vaccination contradicts religious/personal beliefs. Campers and staff can upload an exemption document in lieu of immunizations. Acceptable exemption documents include healthcare provider note or signed affidavit. This procedure is unchanged.
Health profiles for sleepaway and day camps are collected online in CampDoc. For troop camp, volunteers collect the health forms directly from their participants as part of their annual troop outing process. For family camp, no additional health forms are collected because campers are in the care of their own caregivers, but vaccination is still recommended.
This immunization record procedure at camp is unchanged. Vaccination is recommended, and a valid exemption can be accepted in lieu of the vaccination.
We are prepared for potential measles cases at camp.
Our camps are prepared to respond to potential measles cases at camp.
For campers arriving to sleepaway camp: Undergo a brief health screening as part of the check-in process, in accordance with ACA standards. This includes a temperature check to rule out fever upon arrival.
Promote handwashing/sanitizing and general hygiene in the camp environment.
Campers and staff presenting with signs or symptoms of infectious disease at camp are seen by the camp health officer or first aider, isolated immediately, and evaluated for additional symptoms.
If measles is suspected based on symptoms (fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, sore throat, blue-white spots inside mouth, red-brown rash spreading from hairline down body), parent/guardian will be contacted and plans will be made for the person to return home.
Suspected cases reported to local health department and CDC right away.
Follow local health department guidelines for exposure notification and isolation, sanitizing, and other measures for protection of community.
Questions? Please contact your local health department to learn more about measles risk, the measles vaccine, and outbreak response.
