The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) released the schedule for the second round of H1N1 flu vaccination clinics in its statewide, school-based immunization campaign today.
Beginning on January 11, 2010, clinics for second doses of H1N1 flu vaccine will run in schools on scheduled dates for approximately four weeks. The clinics for second doses of H1N1 flu vaccine will be for children who were younger than 10 years of age when their schools ran H1N1 flu vaccination clinics in the fall. Children who were older than 10 years of age at the time of their schools’ first H1N1 flu vaccination clinics do not require second doses of H1N1 flu vaccine.
The schedule for school-based clinics for second doses of H1N1 flu vaccine is available on HEALTH’s website (www.health.ri.gov). The leaders of public, private, and parochial schools throughout the state will contact the parents and guardians of their students with more specific information about clinics.
“Second doses of H1N1 flu vaccine are important for any child who was younger than 10 years of age at the time of his or her school’s first clinic,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “First doses may only give many younger children partial immunity against this serious virus. With another wave of illness very possible in the coming months, parents can keep their families as safe as possible by making sure that their young ones receive second doses of H1N1 flu vaccine.”
In creating the schedule for second-dose clinics, HEALTH considered important factors such as volunteer availability and the number of students to be vaccinated at each clinic. The Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corp (MRC) ’s volunteers will again vaccinate students against H1N1 flu in school-based clinics.
The schedule for second-dose clinics is very similar to the schedule for first-dose clinics, though in some cases school sites were moved to more efficient venues by HEALTH, the MRC, and schools. HEALTH will run 220 second-dose clinics for students enrolled in 278 Rhode Island schools. The schedule can be searched by town, date or school and is subject to change. Parents and students are encouraged to check HEALTH’s website regularly for any updates to the clinic schedule
Parents and guardians should note that retail pharmacies are not vaccinating children who are younger than 18 years of age against H1N1 flu. Additionally, Rhode Island healthcare providers are not yet routinely administering second doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to school-aged children. Children who miss their schools’ second-dose clinics must make alternate arrangements. Children who are older than six months of age but who are not yet in kindergarten or who attend kindergarten in private or pre-school settings can receive second doses of H1N1 flu vaccine from their pediatricians and family physicians now.
HEALTH’s first round of school-based clinics for H1N1 flu vaccine ran from November 2, 2009 through December 15, 2009 for children in kindergarten through grade 12 in Rhode Island schools. At 421 first-round clinics, 120,930 school-aged children received vaccine. Parents and guardians who signed consent forms for their children to attend one of these first dose clinics will not have to sign additional consent forms for second dose clinics.
For the answers to frequently asked questions about second doses of H1N1 flu vaccine, including those regarding consent forms, see the H1N1 School-based Clinics page on HEALTH’s website (www.health.ri.gov). With any additional questions about H1N1 flu or second-dose clinics, call HEALTH’s H1N1 Information Line at (401) 222-8022. Responders on this line are prepared to answer questions in English and Spanish.