With the world focused on COVID-19, Seymour Community School Corp. doesn’t want families to forget about vaccines children need to attend school.
On April 12 and 13, SCSC will host immunization clinic sites at all of its schools, providing a convenient and efficient way for students to receive their childhood vaccinations.
The corporation is bringing in the Indiana Immunization Coalition to administer the vaccines.
“It’s important to continue our efforts to achieve herd immunity for vaccine preventable diseases,” said Sherry Reinhart, director of health services for SCSC.
According to Indiana Code, all incoming kindergarten students need to have required vaccines before beginning school in the fall. Also, students entering sixth grade or grades 9 through 12 will need additional vaccines.
At Seymour High School, Reinhart said there are about 300 students who are not in compliance.
Required vaccines include hepatitis A and B, Polio, DTaP (Diphtheria, tetanus and Pertussis), Varicella (chickenpox), MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and MCV4 (meningococcal). Recommended vaccines include influenza, HPV (human papilloma virus) and MenB (meningococcal).
Last year, the school system partnered with the Jackson County Health Department to offer immunization clinics at the schools during the summer. But due to administering the COVID-19 vaccine and contact tracing, the health department is too busy to offer the school clinics this year, Reinhart said.
Having the clinics at the schools helps increase participation, she said.
“Many parents work long hours and can’t get to the health department,” she said. “So it’s very helpful for our kids and our parents to have the clinics at the schools.”
The cost of the vaccines is covered by private health insurance plans and Medicaid. Those without insurance can still receive a vaccine at no cost, Reinhart said.
Families can register for the clinic online at patients.vaxcare.com/registration using enrollment code IN65942.
Prior to the clinic, staff from the Indiana Immunization Coalition will look up the student’s online CHIRP records to determine which vaccinations are needed.
Students will be pulled out of class in small groups and will return to class after receiving their shots.
“They are very good at what they do,” Reinhart said of the Indiana Immunization Coalition. “I really feel this will increase our immunization rates at our schools.”
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Seymour Community School Corp. families can register their children online for a free immunization clinic at patients.vaxcare.com/registration using enrollment code IN65942.
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