TERRE HAUTE —
Vigo County health officials are preparing for two chickenpox immunization clinics that could bring thousands of students, young children and some school district staff to the Terre Haute South Vigo High School gym Friday and Saturday.
Over two days, the Vigo County Health Department could immunize as many as 6,000 students, young children and school staff, said Joni Wise, health department administrator.
On Friday, health commissioner Enrico Garcia declared a chickenpox outbreak in Vigo County, which has had 57 known cases in recent weeks. That is considered to be “at a rate clearly in excess of what is normally expected,” according to health officials.
In response, the health department and school district will conduct free shot clinics at Terre Haute South Vigo High School on Friday and Saturday. The clinics will be conducted in the school’s gymnasium with the entrance doors facing the south side parking lot.
Friday’s clinic, from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., is just for Vigo County School Corp. students and staff assessed
as needing to be “optimally immunized” for chickenpox.
It is not open to the public.
Saturday’s clinic, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., is open to school district students and staff and any Vigo County child older than one year and younger than six who still need to be optimally immunized against chickenpox. This includes children in pre-k and daycare.
Saturday’s clinic is also for those enrolled in parochial and private schools and those who are home-schooled, said Joni Wise, health department administrator.
According to Census data, there are about 5,000 children in Vigo County under the age of 6 and older than 1 year.
The child’s current immunization record is required the day of the clinic. Those who receive shots must live in Vigo County.
Several organizations will assist with the shot clinics and security will be provided, Wise said.
Ray Azar, Vigo County School Corp. director of student services, said packets of information will be sent home to families of children who need to be immunized. As many as 1,000 VCSC students have been identified as under-vaccinated or not vaccinated at all, he said. Those numbers could go down, if they have records showing they’ve been immunized or had chickenpox.
Most students already have the required single dose for school immunization requirements, but need a second dose due to the outbreak. Many of the students affected are in grades 3, 4 and 5. When they entered school, they were required to have only one chickenpox vaccine, but the law has changed and children now entering school must have two vaccinations, he said.
Because of the outbreak, those students in grades 3, 4 and 5 must now have the second vaccination, he said. “We have to comply with the directives of the Department of Health,” he said.
School staff affected are those born after 1980, Azar said. VCSC substitute teachers as well as student teachers born after 1980 also must be immunized or produce records showing they’ve been immunized or had chickenpox, he said.
“This [clinic] will be the only chance for most students to get that vaccination at no charge and come into compliance with the board of health,” Azar said.
As of Tuesday, Nov. 13, those students and staff who lack immunizations, or records that they’ve been immunized or had the disease, will be excluded from school for 21 days from the last documented case at that school, Azar said. Vigo County schools are out Monday for the Veterans Day holiday.
The district recommends that parents accompany elementary children to the shot clinic Friday, Azar said.
Middle and high school students will be able to ride a school bus to South, but they will need parental permission, and forms are being sent home.
The mass immunization clinics involve a lot of logistics and “it’s a lot of work on the part of school nursing staff,” Azar said.
The clinic site has been changed from Sarah Scott to South Vigo High School.
On Friday, officials reported that in 2009, there were 22 cases of chickenpox in Vigo County; in 2010, four cases; 2011, one case; and this year, 57 cases.
Azar said those who have questions can contact the health department at 812-462-3428 or Vigo County School Corp. school nurses at 812-462-4465.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Health officials preparing 2 chickenpox shot clinics
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Ill. House approves guns plan opposed by governor
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gun owners in the only state still banning concealed weapons would win that right under a plan approved by the Illinois House on Friday, but the governor and other powerful Democrats oppose the plan because it would wipe out local gun ordinances — including Chicago's ban on assault weapons.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 24, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Thursday and Friday, based on jail records.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 23, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Wednesday and Thursday, based on jail records.
-
Relic from another age: Massive find
A mastodon that lived in the Wabash Valley thousands of years ago is making big news today.
-
Game Over: Financial tightening causes VCSC to drop St. Patrick’s from athletic schedule
St. Patrick’s School athletic teams will not have an opportunity to compete against their Vigo County School Corp. middle school counterparts next year.
-
Katelyn Newell finally at home
After nearly five months, 8-year-old Katelyn Newell finally returned home Thursday evening — with a new heart.
-
Indiana State U. Police officer honored with Artz Award
Thursday was a special day for Indiana State University Police Officer Christopher Heleine in multiple ways.
-
City Council considering three for consultant
Three different tax professionals vied Thursday for a chance to become a “financial consultant” to the Terre Haute City Council.
-
Clay County sheriff warns of bank card scam
The Clay County Sheriff’s Department has received information regarding a scam targeting residents, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.
-
State Police seek help with Sullivan County homicide
Indiana State Police detectives from the Putnamville Post are seeking help from the public with the nearly six-month investigation into the death of 85-year-old Lowell R. Badger, a rural Sullivan County farmer.
-
Man who attacked Vigo deputy arrested
A Terre Haute man accused of attacking a Vigo County sheriff’s deputy earlier this week is facing felony charges in the Vigo County jail.
-
INDOT to bid final 641 phase
The final construction phase of the 641 bypass is scheduled to let for bids on Dec. 11, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.
-
District office moves north
The Southwest District office of the Purdue Extension service has been moved north from Vincennes to Terre Haute.
-
Day is done…
The sun sets Thursday evening as seen from south of Terre Haute.
-
Morning update: I-5 bridge collapse caused by truck hitting span
The Washington State Patrol chief says the Interstate 5 bridge collapse into the Skagit (SKA'-jiht) River at Mount Vernon was caused by an oversize truck.
-
UPDATE: I-70 lanes in Putnam County now open
The west-bound lanes of Interstate 70 re-opened Thursday evening after being temporarily closed due to a crash near the Greencastle/Cloverdale exit.
-
22-hospital St. Vincent Health cutting jobs
INDIANAPOLIS — One of Indiana’s largest health systems says it’s cutting an undisclosed number of jobs by June 30 because of increasing economic and competitive pressure on the health care industry.
-
Update: Cleanup from overturned truck in Greene County continues
Fuel spillage from the dump truck hauling gravel that overturned this morning in Greene County at Indiana 54 and County Road 725 East near Ridgeport continues to restrict traffic to one lane.
-
17-pound bone found during Vigo flood cleanup
TERRE HAUTE — Crews cleaning up from Wabash River flooding in Vigo County came across a 17-pound bone that they believe might have come from an ancient mastodon.
-
Duke Energy gives $10K to Wabash Valley Red Cross for Vigo flood relief
Duke Energy is giving $10,000 to the Wabash Valley Red Cross chapter for flood relief from this spring’s heavy rains.
-
I-70 Frye Road overpass contract awarded; construction to begin May 28
The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced the Interstate-70 Frye Road overpass contract was awarded to Halverson Construction Co. Inc. from Springfield, Ill., for $317,166.
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
-
New date set for attempted murder trial
A new trial date has been set for a Terre Haute woman charged with attempted murder.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-




