Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-17
VACCINATION IN The SCHOOLS
Health Commissioner Coffman Issues an
Ultimatum.
ORDER APPLIES TO EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL
superintendent G.. q. Pesrse Estimates
that About Twenty Per cent of
Enrolment Has Never
Bcen Naccinated.

Thirty-two hundred children in the
On ha public schools must either bare their
arms to the vaccine point or discontinue
their school attendance.
For the first time in their history the
Omaha public schools will rigidly enforce
section ia of the Board of Education regu-
lations. which is as follows: principals
have authority to require certificates of
vaccination from all pupils" In former
years the rule has been enforced only In
certain districts where the smallpox ex-
listed, but Or. Coffman, commissioner OF
health has issued an order to Superintend-
ent Pearse requesting him to prevent the
attendance in any school of all children
who cannot produce evidence of success
full vaccination.
This ultimatum was prompted by the out
break of smallpox in the family of Charles
Wetmore at 2715 Decatur street. Mr.. Wet
more his wife and one daughter have the
disease. Until Tuesday two children OF the
Wetmore family attended Long school, and
Investigation shows that neither OF these
children had been vaccinated. The Wet
more family has been quaranttned and
every effort is being made by the health
authorities to prevent the further spread
Of the disease, although 1t is probable that
no member of the Wetmore family viii
escape It.
Order is Positive.
DR.. Coffman's order to Superintendent
Pearse is written in such plain language
that its intent cannot be mistaken. II
reads as follows:
Carroll @. Pearse. Superintendent of the
Omaha Schools: You are instructed To en-
force section ia of the rules and regula-
tons of the Board of Education reaufirims REQ frn,s
all children attending school unless eNl-
dence of plain scar from vaCCinatloh Is
present. VICTOR II. COtfMAN,
Health Commissioners
81 made my order so clear that it cannot
| well be misunderstood, but lest anyone
should think that do not mean what say
| | will add that | propose to have every
| child vaccinated who attends the public
schools. This ruling applies to all the
schools in the city and not alone to the
buildings which are in infected districts,
said Health Commissioner Coffman. II con-
slider that this is necessary to protect the
| health of school children and the health OF
the city"
| strict Enforcement Promised.
"Dr. Coffmans order will be enforced
All the principals will be instructed to ex-
clude from school pupils who cannot fur
nish evidence OF vaccination" said Super
! intendent Pearse, when asked what the
effect of the order will be. Since my con-
nection with the schools there has not beer
a general enforcement of this rule of the
board. In districts which were infected
with smallpox we have excluded children
who were not vaccinated and we have com
mended vaccination so generally that g
large per cent of the children have complied
with the rule.
"Of the 5000 children who attend the
.ln.t, \ CHI hot nnt
| than 20 per cent are without vaccination
scars. 1t may be that the percentage viii
fall below that figure. At any rate, the
number OF children who will be affected b.
the order is comparatively small, perhaps
about 1900. and believe that most parents
will comply with the requirements OF thu
health commissioner and prevent the at
tendance records of the schools from suffer
ing"