Measles and Vaccines in Indiana

Should you vaccinate your children for measles?

Both Indiana and Illinois grant and exemption for the requirement to vaccinate due to medical or religious reasons.  Otherwise, you are required to get your children vaccinated.

Fifteen years ago, the federal Center for Disease Control declared measles eradicated in the United States.  We know now that is not true.

INDIANA

Presently, there have been no outbreaks of measles in the state of Indiana.

Per Dr. Joan Duwve, chief medical consultant with the Indiana State Department of Health. "Only one case of measles constitutes an outbreak for that disease here in the state of Indiana."

The measles virus is incredibly hardy, is airborne and can be passed on before an infected person becomes symptomatic. If an infected person is in a room with 100 unvaccinated people, 90 of them will become ill, Duwve has said.

About 0.81 percent, or 493, of all Indiana sixth-graders and 0.74 percent, or 456, of all kindergartners had a religious exemption in the 2013-14 school year, according to state statistics. That same year 4,455 kindergarten students did not have the MMR vaccine, which includes protection against measles, meaning only 92.7 percent of the grade was fully vaccinated.

 Indiana requires parents to submit exemptions annually, ensuring that they remain firm in their commitment not to vaccinate their children.

Currently, the state's immunization registry does not necessarily include children who are home-schooled or younger than school age, unless a provider or school opts to enter the records.

Because some Amish don't believe in vaccination and there's a strong anti-vaccination movement in southern Michigan, there are pockets with low vaccination rates in Northern Indiana, Duwve said. These areas have seen outbreaks of another preventable disease, pertussis, or whooping cough, in recent years.

VACCINATION EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO

INDIANA CODE § 20-34-3-2 Religious objections

 

    Sec. 2. (a) Except as otherwise provided, a student may not be required to undergo any testing, examination, immunization, or treatment required under this chapter or IC 20-34-4 when the child's parent objects on religious grounds. A religious objection does not exempt a child from any testing, examination, immunization, or treatment required under this chapter or IC 20-34-4 unless the objection is:
        (1) made in writing;
        (2) signed by the child's parent; and
        (3) delivered to the child's teacher or to the individual who might order a test, an exam, an immunization, or a treatment absent the objection.