The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) will begin H1N1 clinics in schools on Monday. Based on current vaccine availability, HEALTH has confirmed the clinics in schools scheduled for the week of November 2. To search the clinic schedule by town or by date, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/flu/about/schoolh1n1clinics/. Some schools have adjusted the time or location of their clinics to accommodate the practical and logistical needs of the clinic. Parents are urged to confirm the clinic time and location on the final schedule.
“Getting vaccinated is the best protection against the H1N1 virus,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “We encourage all parents to have their child vaccinated. In order to receive a vaccination at a school-based clinic, parents must sign and return a consent form to the child’s school. HEALTH cannot vaccinate a child without a consent form. All parents should check the finalized schedule to confirm the time and location for your child’s school clinic.” (To download a consent form in English, Spanish or Portuguese, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/flu/about/schoolh1n1clinics/) Do not return the consent forms to HEALTH.
Receiving H1N1 vaccine at school-based clinics is voluntary. Secondary school (middle school and high school) students will be vaccinated at clinics taking place during the school day. Clinics for elementary school students will be run in the afternoon and evening. The selection of school order for clinics was randomly generated by a computer algorithm.
“School-based clinics are the most efficient and effective way to assure that all Rhode Island school-aged children are offered the H1N1 vaccine in the shortest amount of time,” said Gifford. “If parents decline to have their children vaccinated in school, they should be aware that pediatricians will not have H1N1 vaccine for school-aged children until late December or after the new year.”
The clinic schedule has been created based on current vaccine availability and is designed to be flexible and adaptable to any changes in vaccine distribution or snow days. HEALTH has asked schools to notify their parents if clinic dates change. Children who have allergies not related to vaccine will be able to get vaccinated in the school-based clinic. Children who have severe allergies to eggs, have had a serious reaction to a previous vaccination or have had Guillan-Barre Syndrome will need to be evaluated and vaccinated by their doctor.
For a list of frequently asked questions, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/news/H1N1Advisories/FrequentlyAskedQuestionsAboutTheSchoolBasedVaccinationProgramAndSchedule.pdf.
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