TERRE HAUTE —
Community health officials kept the gym doors open Saturday, administering free shots to local school children and staff.
Joni Wise, Vigo County Health Department administrator, said Saturday about 300 chickenpox vaccines were given to students and staff of the Vigo County School Corp. as part of a mass clinic. Friday, 394 shots were given. Those totals fell short of the goal hoped for, she said.
“Attendance was down. It didn’t meet the expectation or the need to have children vaccinated against chickenpox,” she said just before the 3 p.m. close.
A coalition of health care workers joined forces inside the gym at Terre Haute South Vigo High School between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. County Health Commissioner Enrico Garcia declared chickenpox to be in outbreak status last week. Beginning Tuesday, all school corporation staff born after 1980, and any student not optimally immunized, will be excluded from the facilities 21 days from the last documented case at school per state Department of Health regulations.
Wise said her department used census data to determine potential need and came prepared to dispense up to 5,000 doses.
“We had over half a million dollars worth of vaccine here,” she said, adding no more mass clinics are planned for the remainder of the year. Students and staff not optimally immunized need to check with their doctor, she said.
Optimal immunization means if an individual has had one dose, they need a second. If they haven’t been immunized, they need at least one, she explained.
Chickenpox is a vaccine-preventable disease and should be taken seriously, Wise pointed out.
Most people wouldn’t dismiss the need for measles or mumps vaccinations, nor should they simply ignore chickenpox, she said.
Saturday’s participants spanned a wide range of demographics, from small children to adults. Student nurses from Indiana State University and Ivy Tech Community College participated, as well as volunteers from emergency management agencies and the local business community.
Wise credited the collaborative effort as very efficient with minimal wait times for those receiving vaccines.
Jennifer Lucas from the Indiana State Department of Health, likewise said the multiple agencies all worked well together, from school personnel to volunteers.
“Overall, I think the clinic went very well,” she said.
Vigo County Schools official Mic Newport credited the school nurses as well as the numerous volunteers who participated. The schools have no choice but to comply with the state directive regarding potential exclusion of those refusing to get vaccines, he said.
Last week, the school district anticipated up to 1,000 students who were under-vaccinated or not vaccinated at all, as well as 276 staff. Newport pointed out many of them could have already been vaccinated at their family doctor by now though.
“And hopefully they’ll all be OK to return to school and work,” he said of Tuesday’s deadline.
ISU nursing student Bailey Luce was among those participating in the mass clinic. As a senior, she’d administered a few vaccines at past programs, but Saturday gave her the chance to perform about 30.
“I thought it was a very good experience,” she said. “I felt like I was really helping the community.”
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Glad that's over with: Caleb Klapko breathes a sigh of relief after his chickenpox vaccination Saturday at Terre Haute South High School.
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Smile right through it: Eleven-year-old David Brown smiles as he receives a chickenpox vaccination from Kevin Elizabeth Rowe, R.N., Saturday at Terre Haute South High School.
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Poker face: Ten-year-old Kaleb Klapko does his best to show no emotion as he receives a chickenpox vaccination Saturday at Terre Haute South High School.
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza A spot for a shot: Indiana State University nursing student Jeremy Headlee prepares Chance Holst's arm for a vaccination Saturday during the chickenpox immunization clinic at Terre Haute South High School.
Discussion
Chickenpox clinic totals fall short of goal
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Vigo County Jail Log: June 19, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, based on jail records.
-
Right lane of U.S. 41 South closed at Harlan Road
VIGO COUNTY, Ind. – An intersection improvement project on U.S. 41 and Harlan Road has closed the right lane for southbound traffic beginning today. This lane closure is scheduled to last about one month.
-
Terre Haute Coke & Carbon: Cleaning up a legacy
When heavy equipment starts moving dirt next week at the former Terre Haute Coke and Carbon industrial site, city officials hope a new day will be dawning for a long-neglected part of town.
-
Diversity growing: New census report shows changing face of Indiana
Like the rest of the nation, Indiana is continuing on a trend toward greater diversity as the numbers of Hispanics, blacks, Asians and other minorities are rising at a faster pace than whites.
-
Valley following diversity path of nation, Indiana
Like much of Indiana, the majority white population in the Wabash Valley is on the decline, while minority populations are on the increase.
-
Court lets walkout fines against House Democrats stand
House Democrats who had to pay more than $100,000 in fines after they walked out of the Indiana Statehouse two years ago during a legislative session won’t get the help they sought from the Indiana Supreme Court.
-
Arrest made, victim identified in Rosedale homicide
The victim in a Parke County homicide that occurred last week has been identified as Kathryn A. Bays, 55, of Rosedale.
-
Vermillion industrial park gets award for transition
The Vermillion Rise Mega Park, a former chemical weapons base now an industrial park north of Clinton, has gotten national attention for its rapid transition to civilian from military use.
-
Slight damage from evening storm
Very little damage was reported from a late evening storm that rolled through the Wabash Valley on Tuesday.
-
U.S. 41 lane restrictions
Motorists should expect delays because of lane restrictions on U.S. 41 in Sullivan County next week as a railroad company repairs a rail crossing 1.2 miles north of Shelburn.
-
Lane restrictions next week on U.S. 41 at Shelburn
SHELBURN, Ind. – Motorists should expect minimal delays because of lane restrictions for U.S. 41 in Sullivan County next week as the railroad company makes repairs to the rail crossing 1.2 miles north of Shelburn.
-
Reputed Mafioso tip triggers new Hoffa body search
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The FBI saw enough merit in a reputed Mafia captain’s tip to once again break out the digging equipment to search for the remains of former Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa, last seen alive before a lunch meeting with two mobsters nearly 40 years ago.
-
UPDATE: Parke County homicide victim identified
ROSEDALE — The victim in a Parke County homicide that occurred last week has been identified as Kathryn A. Bays, 55, of Rosedale.
-
Court lets walk-out fines against House Democrats stand
INDIANAPOLIS — House Democrats who had to pay more than $100,000 in fines after they walked out of the Indiana Statehouse won’t get the help they sought from the Indiana Supreme Court.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: June 18, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on jail records.
-
Back home again: Items from vaudeville stage and Terre Haute native sent to Historical Society
The staff at the Vigo County Historical Museum are excited about the arrival of priceless items used by Terre Haute-native Rose Fehrenbach and her husband, Edward Pierce, to promote their Vaudeville acts in the early 20th century.
-
Husband charged in Archer homicide
Terre Haute Police have found local reports of domestic violence between a Terre Haute man and his wife, whose body was discovered wrapped in a tarp and dumped in an Ohio ditch.
-
National Road panels dedicated
Rewind to the mid-1800s, when the trotting of a horse and buggy on National Road could be heard alongside the voices of people heading west, searching for opportunities.
-
Pence sets agency priorities
Following a directive from Gov. Mike Pence, state agency heads are reorganizing some of their top priorities to better reflect the first-year governor’s “roadmap for Indiana” plan for improving the state’s economy, infrastructure and health.
-
Another I-70 traffic snarl: Three injured in two related crashes
Three people were injured Monday afternoon from a pair of crashes on Interstate 70 that temporarily closed the highway and diverted traffic into Terre Haute.
-
Terre Haute man still hospitalized after scooter/car crash
A Terre Haute man remained hospitalized Monday at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after his scooter struck a car early Saturday on Wabash Avenue at 25th Street.
-
Overpass repairs causing Interstate 70 lane restrictions
Repairs to the Frye Road overpass in southeastern Vigo County has caused a restriction to the left lane of Interstate 70 between the 13- and 14-mile markers, about two miles east of the Indiana 46 exit.
-
Indiana woman condemned for killing at 15 is freed
A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 for taking part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old Bible studies teacher was released from an Indiana prison Monday after growing to middle age behind bars.
-
Grant will let Vigo Library evaluate map collection
The Vigo County Public Library has received a $2,000 grant to evaluate its historic map collection, a library official announced Monday.
-
Four juveniles caught on elementary school roof; one injured jumping off
Police say a juvenile was lucky to have suffered only a broken leg after jumping from the roof of a Vigo County elementary school – dropping about 30 feet to the ground.
-
Farmersburg man sentenced after guilty plea in rape case
A Farmersburg man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to a rape that occurred at his parents’ residence in May 2012.
-
Still no information being released on Rosedale homicide
No new information was being released Monday afternoon concerning a Rosedale homicide.
-
Woman condemned for killing at age 15 freed from Rockville prison
INDIANAPOLIS — A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 for taking part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old bible studies teacher was released from an Indiana prison today after growing to middle age behind bars.
-
UPDATE: All lanes of I-70 now open
All lanes of Interstate 70 in Vigo County are now open — as of 4:15 p.m. — after multiple crashes shut down the eastbound lanes temporarily this afternoon.
-
Quinn signs into law tough fracking regulations
CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation giving the state the nation’s strictest regulations for high-volume oil and gas drilling.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Vigo County Jail Log: June 19, 2013
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On'
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
Failed Cuba-to-Florida Swimmer Won't Try Again
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Today in History June 19
Raw: Marines Land Osprey on Japanese Ship
Obama: Friction in Afghan Talks No Surprise
Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone During UK Concert
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Miami Heat Wins in Overtime
Fists, chairs fly in restaurant brawl
Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Fiery Hollywood Crash
Hairy Leg Stockings Aim to Deflect Male Attention
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
