August 18, 2000

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The first of three public hearings to solicit input on a recommendation to add chickenpox vaccine to the list of required school immunizations for Illinois children will be held Tuesday (Aug. 22) at John A. Logan College in Carterville.

The hearing, which is being conducted by the State Board of Health, is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in the college’s auditorium and conclude at 1 p.m. Board member Jane Ann Parker 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.

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

The second hearing is scheduled in Chicago Sept. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the James R. Thompson Center and third and final hearing will be in Springfield on Oct. 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Stratton Office Building.

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.