Last week a letter came home from school informing my family that there are confirmed cases of mumps in Kitsap County. This letter advised me that if mumps were to reach Port Townsend schools, my 11-year-old daughter would not be welcome at school for a period of 26 days, which is the incubation period for mumps.

As someone who has immunized her children, I figured it was a mistake and drove down to Blue Heron Middle School. Port Townsend school [district] does not recognize my daughter’s first dose of this immunization as it was administered 10 days prior to her first birthday.

I have emailed, telephoned and/or met with everyone from the principal, school nurse, superintendent of schools, health department and the doctor’s office that administered the shot – at her one-year well-child checkup, no less.

It seems if mumps does come here, we will have to act by doing a booster shot of MMR, or a titer will be taken to determine if my child is safe to be around others.

I have felt frustration and defeat about this situation, and those aforementioned can attest to this. Having said that, everyone I have spoken with has understood my exasperation and has done what they can to inform, sympathize and talk me down.

I am sharing this information not to criticize the schools or Jefferson Healthcare, but to inform, so hopefully others may benefit. If you have an under-12-month-old and are electing to immunize them, you should educate yourself on the schedule as set forth by the health department.

ANNA FRANK

Port Townsend