Northshore Health Centers is a staple when it comes to offering health services to the community as well as students in the Portage Schools district. On Monday, October 4th though Thursday, October 7th, 2010 in conjuction with Health Services from Portage Schools, Northshore hosted a free immunizations clinic for students grades 6-12. In spring of 2010, the state passed a new law requiring students in those grade levels to get updates on certain immunizations. Those particular shots are Tdap (tetanus diphtheria pertussis), meningitis, and a second chicken pox shot if students have not yet caught the sickness. The reason that these immunizations are important? Students can't attend school without them.
"We're just trying to make it as easy on (the students) as possibe," commented Bea Mitchell, who is part of the intake department with Northshore.
She was busily taking paperwork from students and their parents who had finished up with their immunizations, giving the parents a copy and the school a copy so that there would be no confusion as to whether students received their shots or not. "It's one-stop shopping so to speak," laughed Pat Olson, Health Services Director for Portage Schools. Because the demand for these shots was so high for students in Indiana, doctors' offices and health departments couldn't keep up and that's where Northshore Health Centers stepped in.
"I don't know what we would have done without them on this one so it's great," said Olson.
If you missed the free clinic, give Northshore a call today at (219)763-8112 to get your student or students the shots they need before it's too late!