H1N1 Flu Information

H1N1 Vaccine Second Doses

H1N1 second doses will be given to children 10 and under on January 19th. All clinics will be held at Steere Farm Elementary School. Your child's school will be forwarding specific information to you.

H1N1 VACCINE IN PEDIATRICIANS’ OFFICES AS OF DECEMBER 16 FOR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN

As of December 16, children in kindergarten through grade 12 who missed their first doses of H1N1 vaccine at their schools’ H1N1 vaccination clinics may be vaccinated by their Rhode Island pediatricians and family physicians. Whether children receive injectable or intranasal vaccine will be determined by childrens’ medical histories and health care providers’ vaccine supplies. HEALTH will provide second doses of H1N1 vaccine in January to school-age children (K-12) who are younger than 10 years of age in a second round of schoolbased clinics. Children who are 10 years of age and older do not require second doses of H1N1 vaccine.

Download the RI Department of Health H1N1 Vaccination Timeline (PDF)

Location Change for Austin T. Levy and William L. Callahan School H1N1 Vaccinations

The location for the H1N1 Flu Vaccinations for all Levy and Callahan students has been changed. Levy and Callahan students will now report to Steere Farm Elementary School to receive their H1N1 Flu Vaccinations.

The scheduled dates and times have not changed and will still follow the schedule set by the RI Department of Health. That schedule can be viewed at:

http://www.health.ri.gov/flu/about/schoolh1n1clinics/

R.I. Department of Health 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Consent Form

Download a copy of the RI DOH 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Consent Form (PDF)

RI Department of Health School-Based Vaccination Clinics

The Rhode Island Department of Health has scheduled school-based H1N1 vaccination clinics to occur over a 28-day period starting in the first week of November. Given the amount of vaccine that Rhode Island will receive each week, this schedule allows HEALTH to vaccinate as many students as possible as quickly as possible. While the order in which vaccine will be delivered to schools is fixed, the dates of clinics are subject to vaccine availability and may change slightly. The school clinic schedule was developed using a randomized, computer-generated process.

Please visit the RI Department of Health website below to search for school clinics by city, date, or individual school.

http://www.health.ri.gov/flu/about/schoolh1n1clinics/

Links to helpful information

RI Department of Health Flu News and Advisories

Flu.gov website

RI specific information on Flu.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

October 29th Letter from Superintendent Pallotta

Dear Parents,

This letter is to assure you that we are taking every necessary precaution regarding H1N1.

Reminders:

Children 6 months to 5 years: H1N1 vaccination at pediatrician's office.
Children grades K-12: school vaccination clinics – you should have received information regarding day and time from your child's school.
Please return signed and dated consent forms to your child's school as soon as possible. This will help the Dept. of Health plan for the number of vaccines. Without a signed and dated H1N1 Vaccination Consent Form, a child cannot be vaccinated in school.
Children who are absent from school on the date that vaccines are given will not be vaccinated in the school-based vaccination program. These children will have to wait to receive the vaccine when it becomes available in their provider's office.
Children who have a fever on their scheduled vaccination day should stay home and get a flu vaccination at a later date from their healthcare provider.
Children will only be vaccinated at their own schools.

Other Important Reminders

Remind children to wash hands frequently.
Children should not put hands in their mouth.
Cough and sneeze into your elbow, not your hand.
Do not share eating or drinking utensils (cups, straws, water bottles, etc.)

If you child has flu-like symptoms, please contact your pediatrician.

If you need any additional information, please contact the nurse at your child's school.

Sincerely,
Dr. Frank Pallotta
Superintendent of Schools

October 15th Letter from Superintendent Pallotta

October 15, 2009

Dear Parents,

The Department of Health has provided each school district with the following information relative to the H1N1 Swine Flu School Clinics:

Vaccinations will take place in all schools, public and private.
Students enrolled in grades K-5 will be vaccinated after school hours, with a parent or guardian in attendance.
Students in grades 6-12 will be vaccinated during school hours.
Weekend make-up clinics will be provided in every municipality for the students absent at the time of scheduled in-school vaccinations.
Children, 5 years and older can participate in the school-based vaccine program.
Children enrolled at school, 4 years old and younger, can receive the vaccine from their provider.
Side effects of H1N1 Vaccine?
- The H1N1 vaccine is being manufactured by the same company that supplies seasonal flu vaccine. The side effects are identical to seasonal flu vaccine. Children who run a low-grade fever following the vaccine may attend school.
The Department of Health will forward the schedule for the school clinics within the next two weeks.
Please return completed forms to your child's school.

I hope this information is helpful to you. Please call your child's school if you have further questions/concerns. Some common Questions and Answers are available for download below.