By Don Rutledge
FPS Associate Editor
November 10, 2009
A school clinic where children can be vaccinated for the H1N1 influenza with their parents approval is being planned for the Carrollton Exempted Village School District.
Plans for the district wide clinic were explained by Jane Evans and Marilyn Shields, the school district’s nurses, at the Nov. 3 meeting of the Carrollton Board of Education.
Parents are urged to return the vaccination form approval back to school officials by this Friday, (Nov. 13), so organizers can determine the amount of vaccine needed for the Nov. 17-20 clinic. Letters to parents advising them of the clinic and other necessary precautions about H1N1 influenza were sent home with students Friday, Nov. 6.
Evans said she feels the H1N1 influenza outbreak has possibly reached its peak. However, vaccinations are strongly recommended for school children.
To substantiate this, Evans said “our current percentage of attendance is between 90 and 91% which is not out of range,” she said.
In the letter sent home Friday to parents from Carrollton Schools Supt. Palmer Fogler, parents are asked to return the Plan to Participate form with a “yes” checked if they want their child to be vaccinated at the school clinic.
Parents also are asked to check which form of the vaccine they want administered to their child - nasal spray or shot.
If they do not want their child to be vaccinated at the school clinic, they are asked to return the form with “no” checked.
There is no charge for the vaccine in the school-based clinic, which is being held under an agreement with the Carroll County General Health District who will assist in the dispensing of the H1N1 influenza vaccine.
Parents will be invited to attend the clinic when their child is vaccinated. Anyone having questions should call Evans at the high school at 330-627-2134 during regular school hours.
Evans said parents should adhere to proper hand sanitization while waiting on the vaccine as school officials are doing.
She noted cafeteria workers are wrapping buns and other food items and custodians are washing desks daily while teachers are sanitizing their classrooms.
“We can only do so much here at school,” she continued, noting most parents have been very cooperative and understanding of the situation. “If a student gets sick at school, we send them home,” she told the Board.
Mrs. Evans also pointed out parents should take their child’s temperature at night, not in the morning to get a more true reading.
“They must be fever-free for at least 24 hours before returning to school,” she added.
Mrs. Evans impresses upon parents to return the vaccination approval or disapproval forms as soon as possible so health officials know how much vaccine will be needed for the school clinic.
To expedite the process, parents may also go on the health department’s website at www.carroll-lnd.org and complete the H1N1 vaccine pre-registration form. |
