New Indiana State Mandate Requires all Students to be up to date on Immunizations

To attend school, Indiana students are required to be up to date on their immunization shots, or have a medical exemption, written objection from the parents on religious grounds or have evidence of immunity. Because of the new state requirement, students entering preschool or kindergarten must have two varicella vaccines and all students in grade 6 through 12 must have three vaccines this year: TDAP, meningococcal and a second dose of the chicken pox.


Many of the students in Marion County are not currently up to date on their immunization shots and may not be permitted to attend school until they are. According, to a recent FOX 59 news article, IPS to exclude student without shots starting Tuesday, there are currently 5,000 high school students that are currently not up to date on their immunizations, and could be disqualified from attending school this Tuesday, September 21st. This number is nearly one-eighth of the district’s students that need to be immunized or be banned from attending school, which is not including an estimation of 10—15 percent of elementary students that may not be up-to-date on their immunizations.

Lack of immunizations could cause massive outbreaks, such as the chicken pox rash that occurred in the Zionsville Community School Corporation or other preventable diseases and infections to circulate quickly throughout the school community. In order to ensure that students have access to immunizations, the Marion County Health Department is offering many free immunization clinics around the city this weekend and next week.

According to a Press Release from the Marion County Health Department, “Because of the demand for school-related immunizations, the health department is expecting large turnout and those coming should be prepared to wait in long lines.

Immunization Clinics

What: Free Back to School Immunization Clinic
When: Saturday, September 18
Where: Perry Township Education Center Building Gymnaisum (6548 Orinoco Avenue)
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
*Parent or guardian must be present. If you plan to bring your child, please bring their current record of immunizations.

What: Marion County Health Department Immunization Clinic
When: Monday, Sept. 20 – Friday, Sept. 24
Where: Lafayette Square Shopping Center (3919 Lafayette Road)
*Immunization shots will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, and will cost $10 administrative per person. Parent or guardian must accompany the child at the clinic and must have current immunization record on hand.

What are your thoughts on school districts banning students from attending school, if they are not up to date on their immunizations? Let us know your thoughts by replying to this article.

For a complete listing of the Marion County Health Department’s Immunization Schedule, visit: http://www.mccoyouth.org/MCCOY/UserFiles/clinic_schedule.pdf

For more information on the state mandate, visit: http://www.in.gov/isdh/17094.htm.