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Thursday, September 02, 2010
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| 11/19/2009 9:30:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Youngest students get flu vaccine first; school nurses and public health officials working together on H1N1 issue
BY DENISE MARTIN
The earlier-announced flu vaccination clinics scheduled for November for local public school kids are taking place; but it is a nasal mist form of the vaccine that's being administered and older students await additional supplies.
The Primary School in Chisago City sponsored a vaccine clinic from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday this week for pre-school to first grade aged students. The North Branch Primary School clinic was Tuesday night for ages 4 to first grade, and Taylors Falls Elementary School youngsters, up to first grade, were offered the vaccine Monday night this week.
Chisago Lakes Schools Head Nurse Jane Jacobson said the nasal form is what Chisago County Public Health received. Future clinics for the older students could involve inoculations, it all depends on what's available. Chisago County got 800 doses of the nasal form in this first wave of supplying public health departments.
The clinics are offered from 4 to 7 p.m. to allow parents to be there with young students and having mom or dad around makes it easier on the youngsters too, Jacobson added. Communications folders sent home from school with students contained details about the elementary school clinics and consent forms are required.
The next focus for immunization will be finishing vaccinating the student population through the fifth grade.
Middle school and high school student populations in all the districts will not be offered vaccine for a while. Jacobson said all the school district nurse staff members from Chisago, Rush City and North Branch are scheduled to meet again with Public Health officials November 24. There may be news as far as supply and additional clinics after that date. The public health workers and school nurses have been meeting regularly.
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