3,000 school kids could be sent home

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A new state law requires middle school and high school kid to have three different immunization shots. That applies to about 8,000 children in Vigo County. But at the beginning of the week, an estimated 3,000 students still had not shown proof of their vaccinations.

Volunteer nurses are going to each middle school and high school in the county to give students a chance for a free vaccination.

West Vigo High School Senior Jasper Shank got his last chicken pox shot Wednesday.

"If I didn't get it I wasn't going to graduate," said Shank. "So I'm pretty happy I got it."

School officials have sent notices home to all parents. They hope these clinics will remind parents to bring in proof of vaccinations if their children have already been vaccinated.

"This is a chance for parents to meet the state obligation to get their kids immunized free of charge at school during the school day," said Vigo County Schools Health and Nursing Chair Carol Lucas.

School officials will be forced to lock out kids if they don't get their shots by late March either at school or a doctor's office. For those without insurance, they can run as much as $450. Thanks to donations from community hospitals, doctor's offices and other generous businesses, the shots are free.

If a student misses a vaccination opportunity at his or her school, parents can bring their child to another school to be vaccinated.

Here's the schedule of vaccination opportunities.

• Friday, February 11th - Honey Creek Middle School a.m., Chauncey Rose Middle School p.m.
• Tuesday, February 15th - Otter Creek Middle School a.m., McLean High School p.m.
• Thursday, February 17th - Woodrow Wilson Middle School a.m., and p.m.
• Thursday, March 17th - South Vigo High School, Washington High School a.m. and p.m.
• Thursday, March 24th - North Vigo High School a.m. and p.m.