NOBLESVILLE -
The race is on to protect more students and teachers against a measles outbreak. Thirteen people in Hamilton and Boone Counties are infected, including two children in Noblesville schools.
Health officials held vaccination clinics at Noblesville schools Thursday both for students and staff who needed the shots. After-school events that were canceled as a precaution Wednesday are now back on.
State health officials are continuing to staff a hotline for you to call in with your questions about the measles.
Students and employees not vaccinated at special school clinics went to the county health department Thursday. A small number of parents either forgot or, like Fay Richards, objected to the state-mandated measles vaccinations.
"It was a personal choice. We decided to wait on them and we didn't feel it was a big risk for the measles so we didn't do it...until there was an outbreak," said Richards.
Noblesville school administrators notified parents of 54 students as well as dozens of teachers and other employees that they could not return to work until they were vaccinated or deemed immune. A blood test determined instructional assistant Elizabeth Essig needed a booster shot.
"I was absolutely shocked. When I got the call I was like, 'I know I had the immunization as a child.' But obviously they don't stay with you," said Essig.
The instructional assistant was even more surprised to learn she couldn't go back to work for two weeks.
Barry McNulty with the Hamilton County Health Department believes that health officials are containing the outbreak.
"I would like to believe that we are. We're really focusing on helping the Noblesville school system right now and from that standpoint I would say yes," he said.
When Noblesville Schools learned of the outbreak they abruptly canceled the entire district's after-school activities. On Thursday, administrators announced sporting and other events are resuming immediately.
It could be March before the outbreak is over.
"You can't really say, 'Okay, it will be this many days' because it really depends on how many more students end up with the measles within these schools," said Noblesville Assistant Superintendent Mark Booth.
That's why the district is ordering students who refuse vaccinations to stay home to prevent it from spreading further. Even students with religious waivers must stay home.
250 teachers and staff had blood tests and had to prove their vaccination records to make sure they were not at risk of contracting the virus. Those tests turned out okay.
The hotline number is 1-877-826-0011 (TTY/TTD 1-888-561-0044). State Health Department staff will be on-hand during the hours of 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday to answer questions. Note: Immunization status cannot be verified through this hotline. Individuals unsure of vaccination status are encouraged to contact your health care provider, as they have access to the Indiana Immunization Registry.
