PONCA, Neb. (KTIV) - Come July, students in Nebraska will be required to get a second vaccination for chicken pox. But, the disease is still affecting kids. A recent outbreak in a small Siouxland town has health officials worried.
Friday, a vaccination clinic was held in Ponca, Nebraska for students in public school... after six children became sick.
The vaccine supply is limited. So for now, it's only for students. "Chicken pox isn't usually dangerous, but its very inconvenient and its also very uncomfortable for people to have. And so now that its a preventable disease, we wanted to have a clinic so that this wouldn't spread any farther than what it already has." says Deb Scholten Health Director Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department.
According to state officials, the term "outbreak" is relative to the population and close proximity of towns and neighborhoods. In Ponca's case... an outbreak is three or more people."They all had been on a field trip and were on close proximity on a bus together. So there was a lot of parents thinking a lot of kids were going to come down with it if they hadn't had it already," said Cheri Albrecht, Ponca, Nebraska.
The symptoms to look for include a red, itchy rash on the face, scalp or chest, small blisters, a fever, stomach pain, headache, and a dry cough.
The updated immunization law was passed last year. It affects students in grades K through 12... starting July first.
