11 Measles Cases, Students Reportedly Barred At Lakewood Schools

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Eleven measles cases are now confirmed in Ocean County, and Lakewood private schools were barring unvaccinated students following a threat from teachers to not return if those lacking measles immunizations were permitted to attend school as officials grapple with a measles outbreak, according to a report.

The number of students prevented from attending school Tuesday was unclear, but the Lakewood Scoop reported that a significant number of children who had not been vaccinated received immunizations over the weekend in reponse to the teachers' threat and schools' insistence on the shots.

About 50 teachers in Lakewood sent a letter to the school administration stating their objection, The Lakewood Scoop reported. The affected schools are private schools that serve the Orthodox Jewish community, NJ101.5 reported.

The Ocean County Health Deparment in a notice posted Tuesday said there are now 11 confirmed measles cases, up from six confirmed as of Nov. 7. The county notice said seven others are under investigation.

In the interim, hundreds of Ocean County residents have been vaccinated at mobile clinics amid efforts to stem the outbreak, some of them free clinics, the Asbury Park Press reported.

The issue of excluding unvaccinated students from school, however, has raised concerns. The Ocean County Health Department issued guidance stating only students who the health department says should be kept out of school — those who have been exposed by one of the confirmed cases — should be excluded from school. That prompted teachers to threaten to stay away. Schools, however, took a hard line and insisted on the vaccinations, according to the Lakewood Scoop.

While the health department said unvaccinated students might be allowed to attend school, a Lakewood restaurant has drawn fire for announcing it will bar entry to anyone who is not vaccinated against measles, according to the NJ 101.5 report. Snaps Restaurant announced the policy on Instagram, drawing anti-Semitic comments and threats, according to the post.

Authorities said people should continue to monitor for symptoms of the measles if they were at any of the following locations as they can show up as much as 21 days after exposure, meaning new cases from the previous exposures could happen as late as Nov. 22.

Anyone who visited the following locations may have been exposed to measles:

• Schul Satmar, 405 Forest Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701
• October 13- October 21 between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily
• October 28- November 1 between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. daily
• October 28- October 31 between 6:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. (morning of Nov. 1)
• November 1 between 6:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
• Eat a Pita, 116 Clifton Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701
• October 15 between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
• CHEMED Health Center, 1771 Madison Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701
• October 17 between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
• October 18 between 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• October 30 between 9:20 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
• October 31 between 8:45 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
• November 1 from 10:15 p.m. to close

• NPGS, 231 Main St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • October 25 between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
  • October 29 between 2:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.
• Pizza Plus, 241 4th St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • October 28 between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

• Office of Dr. Eli Eilenberg, 150 James St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
• October 31 between 11:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
• Four Corners Bagel & Café, 150 James St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
• October 31 between 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

The health department continues to update exposure sites and dates.

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