Sep 30, 2009 10:52 pm US/Eastern
Hundreds Of Students Vaccinated Before Deadline
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
In a last-ditch effort, hundreds of parents and students in Allegheny County lined up for immunizations.
Students who do not have their shots up-to-date by October 1 will not be able to attend school.
The Allegheny County Health Department had a free clinic in Oakland.
For the third day in a row, the health department gave more than 500 kids free vaccinations.
Donna Brown, from Rankin, brought her granddaughter Trinity who is in the first grade.
"We were going according to her doctor and her doctor said she still had another month – the school said no, so now I'm down here," Brown said.
"I knew that he needed one," Jessica Winer, from Mount Oliver, said, speaking of her son. "I've been calling the hospital, they said not until October."
School districts are serious about complying with the new rule.
"I got a letter today saying that she wouldn't be permitted in school – they would actually have a bus there to take her to the police station if no one was home to come and pick her up," Kristy Koenig, from North Versailles, said.
The new required immunizations are for meningitis, chicken pox, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough.
Families can obtain an exemption for religious or personal reasons, but only about one percent have taken advantage of it.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Read More Health News
Click to enlarge
New Winter Storm Moves Into Pittsburgh Area 7 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Comments