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    Noah Jones, 16, sits in the Lincoln Academy auditorium in Newcastle on Friday, where he’s acting in “Les Miserables,” which has him around dozens of kids and performing in a room full of people. The sophomore has been fighting leukemia and his immune system does not offer much protection from infectious diseases.

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    Noah Jones sits with fellow cast members backstage at the Lincoln Academy auditorium Friday. A recent chickenpox outbreak that affected some students required him to take extra precautions. “When you have barely any immune system protection, something like the chickenpox can be fatal,” he said.

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    Kevin and Maureen Sturtevant of Portland say infectious diseases will always be a worry. Their 19-month-old son, Sam, was infected with the enterovirus and required a liver transplant when he was an infant and cannot receive most vaccines. In addition, the medications he takes suppress his immune system. “We are entirely reliant on herd immunity going forward,” his mother said.

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    Joe and Crystal Giordano of Portland have two sons, Angelo, 7, and River, 9 months, who was born prematurely and has respiratory problems. Until River is able to be vaccinated, his parents are relying on herd immunity to protect him. “It is so scary,” his mother said.

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