Mumps

If mumps is reported at my child's school, will they be excluded?

Grades K-12

If your child has no valid doses of the MMR vaccine:

  • Your child will be excluded from school and after school activities for 25 calendar days from the onset of the last mumps case at your school. We cannot predict if more children will become ill with mumps. Therefore, this period could be extended as long if children continue to become infected. 
  • This exclusion will continue until he/she has received at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Your child will be allowed to return to school once he/she has proof of at least one valid dose of MMR vaccine and is scheduled to get a second dose 28-42 days after the first dose.

If your child has one valid dose of the MMR vaccine:

  • Your child will be excluded from school and after school activities for 25 calendar days from the onset of the last mumps case at your school.

  • This exclusion will continue until he/she has received a second valid dose of MMR vaccine and can provide proof.

If you choose not to vaccinate:

  • If you decide that you do not want to get your child vaccinated, he/she will be excluded from attending school until at least 25 calendar days after the onset of the last mumps case at their school. Neither the school district nor the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department can estimate when exactly that will be.

If your child has two valid doses of the MMR vaccine:

  • Your child will be not be excluded from school and after school activities.

PRESCHOOL
The Center for Disease Control recommends a 2-dose series of MMR vaccine at ages 12 through 15 months and 4 through 6 years. The second dose may be administered before age 4 years, provided at least 4 weeks have elapsed since the first dose. Students must have two valid doses of the MMR to enroll in kindergarten.

If your child attends preschool and has one valid dose of MMR vaccine:

  • Your child may attend school and activities as normal.

If your child attends preschool and has no valid doses of the MMR vaccine:

  • Your child will be excluded from school and after school activities for 25 calendar days from the onset of the last mumps case at your school. We cannot predict if more children will become ill with mumps. Therefore, this period could be extended as long if children continue to become infected. 
  • This exclusion will continue until he/she has received at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Your child will be allowed to return to school once he/she has proof of at least one valid dose of MMR vaccine.