Suwannee Democrat

October 27, 2009

SCHOOL H1N1 VACCINATION DATES SET

From the Suwannee County health Department


A schedule for the H1N1 vaccine to be administered in the Suwannee County public schools has been set. The schedule is as follows:

Monday, November 2 Suwannee Intermediate School

Tuesday, November 3 Suwannee Elementary School

Wednesday, November 4 Suwannee Primary School

Thursday, November 5 Branford Elementary School

Branford High School

Friday, November 6 Suwannee Middle School

Monday, November 9 Suwannee High School



Nearly 1,600 signed consent forms have been returned to the schools. Only students with signed consents will be given the vaccine. Only the injectable H1N1 vaccine, which is made from killed virus, will be used in the school setting. Students age 9 and younger will require a second dose of H1N1 vaccine given 3-4 weeks after the first dose. Clinical trials have shown that the second dose is needed by young children in order for their bodies to produce the level of immunity needed to protect them from infection. These students will be given a second consent packet on the day they receive the first dose of vaccine. Parents must sign and return the second consent for the second dose to be given. Tentative date for this second dose to be given is the week of November 30th. Parents will be notified of the specific date at a later time.

The Suwannee County Health Department appreciates the assistance of the Suwannee School System, especially the school nurses, in planning this vaccination campaign in the schools.

If you have any questions about the Suwannee County H1N1 vaccinations campaign, please call 386-362-2708. For more information about H1N1 disease and vaccinations visit www.myflusafety.com, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/, or call 1-877-FLA-FLU1 (1-877-352-3581).