MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Jose Dotres provided an update Thursday on the one case of measles at Palmetto Senior High School, saying Thursday that “everything is very stable.”
The vaccine rate at the Pinecrest school is 99.7%, with the vast majority of students immunized, he said.
Dotres noted that there have been no other incidents regarding measles at this point.
He added that the University of Miami, a district partner, will be providing free vaccines in the community for any students who may need the MMR vaccine.
During scheduled remarks at South Miami Heights Elementary School, Dotres introduced a new telehealth service in partnership with Hazel Health, supported by a UnitedHealthcare investment.
He described it as a “game changer” because it allows students to see a doctor during the school day at the nurse’s office with parental consent.
Mari Tere Rojas, the school board chair, emphasized that this service assists parents by providing accessible resources.
Hazel Health President Andrew Post said, “One in five children face mental health concerns, this is an empowerment tool to change people’s lives, to make a generational difference in my community.”
This initiative comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the United States, especially its youth, is in a mental health crisis, worsened by pandemic-related factors.
Recent data show that two in five high school students struggled with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023.
Dotres emphasized the importance of addressing both physical and mental health needs, noting the pandemic’s lasting impact.
“We cut down on the delay of services of parents having access to mental health services for their children,” he said, highlighting the combined package of support provided by the new services.
The telehealth services are available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday with parental consent.