Children's Immunizations In Question Year After Flood

JOHNSON COUNTY, Ind. -- The Johnson County Health Department is trying to track down children displaced by last year's floods who may be behind on their immunizations.

The routine shots were put on hold last June after the Franklin facility flooded and health officials were diverted to more pressing issues, 6News' Ben Morriston reported.

"Our focus was on getting the emergency medications out to people, and that took away from our normal programs, and we were also out of our office," said Johnson County Health Department Administrator John Bonsett.

After reviewing files recently, health officials said that many 18-month-old children are behind on six important immunizations, including chicken pox and polio vaccines.

"We have some children who were lost. They either were displaced by the flood, got busy doing other things and forgot about those shots," said Director of Nursing Paula Mandel.

Workers are now trying to reach out to parents to get children caught up as soon as possible.

Anyone who was in the midst of immunizing their child through the Johnson County Health Department is asked to call 317-346-4368.