NORTH TWP. | North Township Trustee Frank J. Mrvan is exploring having the township offer certain school immunizations and physicals, flu shots and pneumonia shots in light of the likely demise of the Hammond Health Department.

Board member Ralph Flores on Tuesday initially raised concerns about the potential of duplicating services, but Mrvan gained Flores' support by responding that the Lake County Health Department satellite office in Hammond is expected to close in about a year.

"After that year is up, people will either have to go to Crown Point to get that service or be without it," Mrvan said.

Mrvan said talks with the Indiana Department of Health have indicated grants are available to pay for the program.

"Other townships are providing flu shots and immunizations," he said. "We can do that with no problem."

In Hammond, the plan calls for certain services to be offered only to young children first entering school and children transferring into the Hammond school system. Senior citizens throughout the township would be offered flu shots and pneumonia shots on a seasonal basis during senior luncheons.

Discussions continue with the School City of Hammond to determine the number of children who might need services there, Mrvan said.

"There are certain shots (needed) to get kids into school," he said. "That's the issue that's going to boil over."

Mrvan said the program currently is being priced out as some school shots are more expensive than others.

"Where you start getting into expense are the more obscure immunizations," he said.

In looking into the cost question, Mrvan said he learned school shots in the city of East Chicago come in at under $30,000 for the whole year.

As far as school physicals are concerned, Mrvan said he has a commitment from an area physician to provide them at no cost.

To avoid the possibility of two entities paying for the same service, Mrvan said he plans to try to work with the Lake County Health Department. Currently the county is offering only limited services in Hammond until the Hammond City Council officially abolishes the municipal Health Department.

Most recently Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. vetoed an ordinance that called for the city to fund the Health Department with casino dollars. For the council to override the mayor's veto would require six votes. Also still pending are two proposed ordinances that would abolish the department.

When that question is finally resolved, Mrvan indicated the township's challenge will be to determine the void in services.

"If that void is there, how can we fill it?" he said.