September 12, 2000

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The second of three hearings to gather public input on a recommendation to add chickenpox vaccine to the list of required school immunizations for Illinois children will be held Thursday (Sept. 14) at the James R. Thompson Center (JRTC) in Chicago.

The hearing, which is being held by the State Board of Health, is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in the JRTC auditorium, 100 W. Randolph St., and conclude at 2 p.m. Board member Colin McRae will chair the hearing. Either written or oral testimony will be accepted and entered into the record.

As required by state law, the board is holding the hearings as the result of a recommendation in April by the state's Immunization Advisory Committee that chickenpox become the ninth childhood disease for which a vaccination is necessary before a child can enter an Illinois public or private school.

In addition to testimony on the chickenpox vaccine, the board also will hear from the public on a proposal to expand the allowable medical exceptions for school immunizations to include children who have had an adverse reaction to a shot and their siblings.

The third and final hearing is scheduled for Springfield on Oct. 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Room D-1 of the Stratton Office Building. The initial hearing was held Aug. 22 in Carterville at John A. Logan College.

Once the hearings have been completed, the 15-member board will submit a recommendation to Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, for his consideration.

Current immunization requirements for children entering the state's elementary and secondary schools include vaccination proof against diphtheria, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, pertussis, polio, rubella and tetanus.