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H1N1 vaccine clinic set Oct. 31
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
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Due to a nationwide shortage of the H1N1 vaccine, Calvert County public schools Supervisor of School Health Donna Nichols said it will not be administered on a school-by-school basis.
The vaccine will, however, be administered to young people ages 2 through 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at the Calvert County Fairgrounds in Prince Frederick.
This decision was made by the Calvert County Health Department and announced at last Thursday's Calvert County Board of Education meeting.
"We have seen some widespread issues of students being out," said Nichols, who continued that these absences appeared to be countywide and not isolated to a particular school.
She said that for a student or child to receive the H1N1 vaccine in its nasal spray form, it is imperative that they did not receive the seasonal flu vaccine in the nasal spray form within the previous 21 to 28 days.
Nichols said this is due to the fact that nasal sprays contain live viruses, whereas if one were to receive the seasonal flu vaccine in a shot form there are no time restrictions as to when the H1N1 vaccine can be administered.
Board of education member Tracy McGuire asked if receiving both nasal sprays close together could be fatal, explaining that some parents might feel a sense of urgency and ignore timelines.
Nichols said probably not, but, "with two live viruses you could get very ill."
Board of education member Bill Chambers agreed that this point needed to be stressed, saying, "It's important to let parents know what the consequences of violating that timeline are regarding the health of their child."
Nichols said that Saturday's clinic will give out the vaccine on a first-come, first-serve basis with the line being cut off at 1 p.m.
She also said that permission slips will be distributed in schools and that younger children should have a parent with them as questions will be asked prior to the vaccine.
She said that while usually about 40 percent of the county receives the seasonal flu vaccine, she is expecting the H1N1 to be more in demand.
"And that's across the state," Nichols said, adding that even if a young person has been previously infected with the H1N1 virus, receiving the vaccine is still a good idea.
