Portage Twp. Schools holding immunization clinics this week

PORTAGE | Portage Township Schools is holding an immunization clinic for students in grades six through 12 who are in need of immunizations to meet new state requirements.

The clinics will be held from 3:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. today, Wednesday and Thursday, at Portage High School East. Students and parents are to enter through the gymnasium or "Q" doors.

The clinics, Portage Township Schools Health Services Director Pat Olson said, are being held in conjunction with NorthShore Health Center.

Olson said about 2,000 of the some 4,700 students in grades six through 12 have not yet met their immunization requirements which include TDap, meningitis and a second chicken pox vaccine.

PTS has received a waiver from the state which had set a deadline of Sept. 20 for all students to meet new immunization requirements or face exclusion from classes.

Olson said the state approved the waiver since PTS had put a plan into place to immunize students. She said she is hoping the students needing immunizations will attend the clinics this week to meet state requirements.

The immunizations are free to students.