Stop Flu At School Seasonal Clinics Start Today; H1N1 Clinics Begin In November
The state kicked off its stop flu at school campaign today with more than 68,000 students expected to participate at 334 school clinics across the state between now and December 3rd, 2009. The H1N1 flu vaccination clinics, meantime, are scheduled to begin in mid-November with parental consent forms to go out the week of October 19th. The consent forms must be turned in by October 30th for students to participate in the H1N1 clinics.
File Photo Courtesy CDC.
Now in its third year, Protect Hawai’i’s Keiki: Stop Flu At School kicked off today with thousands of Hawai’i elementary and middle school students receiving their free seasonal flu vaccine this week through the Hawai’i State Department of Health (DOH) program.
Last year, more than 62,000 children were vaccinated in the free and voluntary program. Additionally, more than 9,500 teachers and school staff received the flu vaccine, pushing the total number of vaccinations at school-based clinics over 71,500.
“This year more than ever, the current H1N1 pandemic has presented us with a formidable set of circumstances,” said Health Director Chiyome Fukino, M.D. “It is a credit to our public workers and private partners that in the face of this challenge they are still able to put together and carry out such a comprehensive, critical program that helps keiki across the state.”
“The system is in place to where we can switch gears once we complete this seasonal flu program and seamlessly begin to administer H1N1 vaccine to one of our initial priority groups: Hawai’i’s keiki,” said Fukino.
“Ensuring the health and well-being of our keiki is a top priority for the State, and providing students with free flu vaccinations is one way to protect them and their families from the seasonal flu,” said Governor Linda Lingle, who attended the flu vaccination kick off at Kalihi Kai Elementary School and proclaimed today “Influenza Vaccination Day.”
Information about the Stop Flu at School program and the upcoming school-based H1N1 vaccine program is available online at www.stopfluatschool.com or by calling Aloha United Way’s 2-1-1 hotline.
(Posted by Wendy Osher; Information provided by the State of Hawaii Department of Health)
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