Aug. 10--TERRE HAUTE -- Students in grades 6-12 who do not have three added immunizations now required by the state will have extra time to obtain them, Ray Azar, director of student services with the Vigo County School Corp., said Monday.
Because of strong demand for the vaccinations and some expected delays in obtaining them, the school district "does not intend to immediately exclude students from attending school who do not have the necessary immunizations," according to a news release issued by the school district.
Students' first day of school is Aug. 17.
"We're going to allow a lot of leeway and extra time for people to comply," Azar said. "We have talked with the state and they are aware of our situation."
As long as families are making a good faith effort to obtain the vaccinations -- even if it's not until October or November -- the school district "will give parents the time they need," Azar said.
The state has added three vaccinations for students in grades 6-12: meningococcal (meningitis), varicella (chickenpox) and Tdap (pertussis).
The Vigo County Health Department, which had offered several free, walk-in clinics this summer to provide the vaccinations, canceled its last walk-in clinic scheduled for Saturday. The health department cited "staffing and location issues" in canceling the Aug. 14 clinic.
At an Aug. 4 walk-in clinic, there were long lines at the Vigo County Annex, and one parent reported waiting four hours for her son to receive his vaccinations. There also were concerns about people being crowded in narrow hallways.
Now, many families are scrambling to obtain the vaccinations.
Megan Bland, media coordinator with the county health department, said the department canceled the last clinic because it doesn't have the staff to handle the kind of turnout that occurred Aug. 4.
"A lot of people showed up, more so than we anticipated," she said. Also, the large numbers of people in the annex and lining its hallways violated the fire code, she said.
The health department did have five walk-in clinics this summer and provided vaccinations to more than 1,200 students, Bland said. The 1,200 includes 428 vaccinated Aug. 4.
The department is now encouraging parents and guardians to contact their doctor to obtain the vaccinations.
If a family physician isn't offering the vaccines, people can contact the health department to set up an appointment, but "we are booking into October now," Bland said. The telephone number is 462-3431.
The Sycamore Nursing Center also provides immunization clinics, but it is booked until Nov. 4. The number is 237-3696. There is a $5 per patient administrative fee. The clinic is offered through the Indiana State University College of Nursing. Another clinic will be offered Dec. 2, according to a school district news release. People must have an appointment.
Azar said school nurses are most concerned about students in Grades K/1 and Grade 6 having their vaccinations up-to-date when they begin school.
The school district also will accept a written objection for medical or religious reasons. A form for such an objection is available by contacting the school nurse after the first day of school, Azar said.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
-----
To see more of The Tribune-Star or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tribstar.com/.
Copyright (c) 2010, The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail services@mctinfoservices.com, or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544).