‘More scared for others’: Miami Palmetto students cautious, but not sweating measles case

Some students at Miami Palmetto Senior High School say they’re reducing social interactions amid concerns over a confirmed case of measles.

Officials confirmed Tuesday that the infected person is a student at the Pinecrest campus and, according to flhealthcharts.gov, the patient is between the ages of 15 and 19.

“Just stay away from people,” Matthew Zavala, a ninth grader, said. “Separate yourself.”

Although Zavala feels protected, he said he remains concerned for those who are not vaccinated.

“See, I know I’m good,” he said. “I’m worried about the other people that don’t have their shot.”

On Tuesday, an email was sent to Zavala’s parents and others, alerting them to the situation.

“Yeah, they called me while I was on the way home talking about, ‘Oh, you know your school got measles?’ I was like, ‘What?’ It was crazy,” he said.

Related link: State immunization guidelines

This marks the first reported case in Florida, adding to a growing list of 10 states, including Texas, where an unvaccinated child died.

Andrew Azaret, a freshman, noted the potential for rapid spread.

“Well, a lot of people are close together and we’re all right here, so it can spread really quickly,” Azaret said.

Doctors assured parents that if a child is fully vaccinated, there is no cause for concern.

“I wasn’t too scared for myself,” Tristan Carr, a sophomore, said. “I was more scared for others.”

For those whose children are not vaccinated, doctors recommend, “Now would be a good time to go ahead and get them vaccinated.”

An email from the school’s principal states that the Florida Department of Health will be hosting a free MMR immunization drive at the school’s campus during the week of March 10 “for for any unvaccinated student whose parents provide consent.”