UM to Host Webinar on Measles with Start of School

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Thousands of students will be descending on Missoula and Montana public schools, as well as the University of Montana, in the next few weeks, and UM will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday to discuss the resurgence of measles in western Montana.

I spoke with UM Professor Tony Ward, Chair of the School of Public and Community Health Sciences, about the resurgence of measles in western Montana.

UM to Host Webinar to Discuss Resurgence of Measles

“We are hosting a webinar on trying to get information out on what questions parents have in sending their kids back to school in a time when we're starting to see measles in the state of Montana,” began Professor Ward.

Ward said his department is working on providing guidance about measles for all schools in the state, from elementary to secondary, and the universities.

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With School Starting Soon, the Webinar will be Helpful to Parents

“This webinar is primarily focused on kids coming back to school, and public schools, private schools throughout Montana, not necessarily here at the University of Montana, but throughout the state of Montana,” he said. “Because schools are starting back up here in a week or two weeks, we're starting to get lots of questions from parents on whether it's safe to send our kids back to school in a time when we're starting to see measles in our communities?”

Tuesday's Webinar will Feature a Number of Experts

Ward said Tuesday’s webinar will feature a panel of experts on the disease.

“We've brought together a panel of experts, starting with school nurses and school officials,” he said. “We also have a pediatrician who will be joining us. We have some folks from our local health department here in Missoula and Missoula Public Health, but also the state health department, the Montana DPHHS (Department of Public Health and Human Services). We also have some communicable disease specialists that will be joining our panel from Gallatin County and from Jefferson County.”

Many Important Questions will be Answered in the Webinar

Ward said all manner of questions will be addressed in the webinar.

“Those subtleties, such as are the vaccines safe? How often should we get a vaccine? If I were vaccinated a long time ago, do I need the vaccine again?” he said. “Not only that, will they address any concerns about the measles vaccine, but also with flu season, upcoming COVID shots, even the rollbacks on MRNA (Messenger RNA) vaccines, and any questions that come from the audience, we will do our very best to answer those concerns.”

Click here to get access to Tuesday’s webinar, which will be on ZOOM from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.