Many Northwest Indiana dad and mom are apparently skeptical about vaccinating their youngsters in opposition to COVID-19, in keeping with latest statistics provided by native economist Micah Pollak.
In Lake County, 22% of youngsters ages 5-11 have been totally vaccinated and in Porter County, 26% have been vaccinated.
Within the 12-15 age group, 46% of Lake County youngsters have been totally vaccinated and 50% have been in Porter County.
Some dad and mom expressed reluctance for his or her youngsters to be vaccinated at a latest immunization clinic at Merrillville Excessive College.
Hailey Kight, 12, of Merrillville acquired two state-required immunizations. Her mom, Heather Kight, mentioned they’d be her daughter’s final required ones till highschool.
Hailey didn’t take the COVID-19 vaccination.
“We don’t do the COVID or the flu shot,” her mom mentioned.
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Alina Magana, 11, of Merrillville, acquired a flu shot, and required injections for meningitis and tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, however didn’t get the non-compulsory COVID-19 vaccination.
“I nonetheless have issues,” mentioned her mom, Nelly Rodriguez. “There could be a nasty impact on her.”
Brooke Harris, of Merrillville, did let her daughter Khrei, 5, obtain the COVID-19 shot. It was her second shot. Harris mentioned she and her husband had already contracted COVID-19 twice.
“I didn’t hesitate for her,” she mentioned of her daughter.
Since February, faculties not must report COVID-19 circumstances, nor do contact tracing. In asserting the brand new guidelines, state Well being Commissioner Kristina Field cited the supply of vaccines and the decline in coronavirus circumstances.
Since February, nevertheless, new omicron strains have developed and each Lake and Porter counties have been listed within the excessive transmission stage class on a state dashboard on Friday. A brand new omicron vaccine is anticipated to be accessible in Northwest Indiana quickly.
“It’s on the market,” mentioned Connie Rudd, director of Nursing on the Porter County Well being Division. “The nice factor is it’s not inflicting individuals to be hospitalized or inflicting deaths.”
She mentioned individuals want to recollect it’s a respiratory sickness and in the event that they’re sick, simply keep house. “Wash your arms and do the frequent issues individuals sort of overlook.”
In Lake Station, Superintendent Thomas Cripliver mentioned college students and their households are inspired to get vaccinated. If dad and mom give permission, Cripliver mentioned the district will transport college students to a North Shore clinic within the metropolis.
Tina Foreman, Merrillville faculties nursing coordinator, mentioned the district will contact the Lake County Well being Division, if a classroom outbreak occurs.
Pollak, an Indiana College Northwest economist who does deep dives into COVID-19 knowledge, mentioned faculties and the state may present extra transparency on case numbers.
“There’s successfully zero dependable knowledge on the variety of circumstances or unfold of the virus in faculties now,” he mentioned.
“A number of faculties right here and there might informally report circumstances, however because the state stopped requiring faculties to report circumstances there isn’t any incentive to take action. Sadly, all we’ve now are anecdotal studies.”
He mentioned he’s heard studies of children and lecturers out sick with COVID-19 with districts scrambling to search out substitutes.
“I’ve been advocating for faculties to frequently report the absence charge of each college students and employees on the faculty stage. I believe it is a cheap request and would give us an thought of the circumstances within the faculty, however thus far no district is excited by reporting this.”
Carole Carlson is a contract reporter for the Submit-Tribune.
