Poughkeepsie Journal

NEW PALTZ - Dozens of SUNY New Paltz students sat in chairs and waited.

Some were about to receive a dose of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Others were waiting for the recommended 15 minutes of recovery time following the vaccination to end.

With 69 confirmed or probable cases of mumps on the New Paltz campus, the Student Union Building’s multipurpose room was transformed into a bustling vaccination clinic Tuesday, taking students from sign-in to the table with snacks and juice boxes at the end.

The vaccination clinic, which is not open to the public, was created in response to the outbreak, which began when eight members of the school's men's swimming and diving team were infected in early November and has since spread to others on campus and one student at New Paltz High School.

after eight members of the boy’s swimming team were infected in early November has spread to others on campus and one student at New Paltz High School.

— which was scheduled to run from 10 a.m to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday — comes after infections of eight members of the boy’s swimming team in early November has spread to others on campus and one student at New Paltz High School.

In a press conference Tuesday morning, Ulster County health commissioner Carol Smith said there are plans in place for an incident like this in the county’s “preparedness program,” which puts health officials through exercises to prepare for outbreaks of infectious diseases.

officials from SUNY New Paltz, the Ulster County Department of Health and the New York State Department of Health said the clinic was a coordinated effort spearheaded by the county.

Ulster County health commissioner Carol Smith said there are plans in place for an incident like this in the county’s “preparedness program,” which puts health officials through exercises to prepare for outbreaks of infectious diseases.

“Much time went into the preparation to put this mass vaccination event together,” she said. “What you see as a smooth running camp really is really a coordinated effort with many parties.”

According to the state, adults born after 1957 are recommended to receive two doses of the vaccine. That amount is 88-percent effective against mumps, Brad Hutton, New York State Department of Health deputy commissioner, said. A third dose was offered to students at the clinic which, he said, provides even better protection. The clinic will be open again from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.​

“The most successful tool we have to prevent mumps is the vaccine,” he said.

Sophomore Aly Michael, while recovering with friends said the vaccination took about 3 minutes. Students had been notified of the clinic through text and email, and were asked to sign up for a 15-minute time slot.

Like the friends she was recovering with, she said she still felt surprised at the mounting size of the outbreak.

“I didn’t expect it to get this big,” she said, “especially since the mumps isn’t really a common thing.”

Wayne Brumfield, SUNY New Paltz's interim vice president for student affairs, said as students head into winter break they should continue to be aware of common mumps symptoms — swelling of salivary glands, fever, headaches, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite. Those students need to see their health care provider, he said.

Additionally, he said there have been 19 students who have refused the vaccine, for religious or other reasons, and that they have had to leave campus per the state's public health law, but can complete their coursework online through Blackboard.

“The health and safety of all of our students, faculty and staff — that’s our top priority here,” he said.

Hutton said the same policy applies to colleges throughout New York. The University at Buffalo and SUNY Geneseo have both experienced mumps cases.

This is a problem on campuses across the country right now, he said, because of the contagiousness of the viral disease. Throughout New York, there have been 147 confirmed or probable cases in 2016, he said, the largest number since 2010. There are no plans for upcoming clinics at other schools.

Jack Howland: jhowland@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4870, Twitter: @jhowl04