No Shots, No School: Vigo County Schools Tell Parents To Keep Kids Home If They Aren't Vaccinated

Barbara Brosher

Vigo County students not up-to-date on their immunizations will have to stay home from school starting Monday.

Officials there have been working to get kids vaccinated since the beginning of the year. School nurses started reaching out to parents in the fall, through letters, phone calls and, in some cases, in-person meetings.

They’ve made some progress – at the beginning of the year there were close to 1,000 students who weren’t up-to-date on immunizations required by the state. Now, there are less than 100.

Vigo County School Corporation’s Director of Student Services Ray Azar says they’re making those students stay home from school starting Monday to prevent any sort of outbreak – something they experienced in 2011.

"That happened a couple of years ago when chicken pox was the big story," Azar said. "We had a lot of children who were not in compliance with the law and we were basically told by the state board of health they can’t come to school anymore."

Parents can file medical or religious exemptions, which the school corporation does recognize.

Support independent journalism today. You rely on WFYI to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Donate to power our nonprofit reporting today. Give now.

'Just say no' didn't actually protect students from drugs. Here's what could

For years, programs like D.A.R.E. told students to "just say no" to drugs. But research shows that approach alone didn't work. Now experts are backing a new approach that could help save lives.