Commonground
Senior Moderator
By Jeff Malachowski/Daily News staff
Thu Sep 10, 2009, 07:19 AM EDT
HUDSON - With the H1N1 vaccine expected to arrive sometime next month, Superintendent Kevin Lyons said the town will hold flu shot clinics later in the month or in early November.
Lyons told the School Committee on Tuesday night that administrators and the Board of Health have been planning the clinics over the past few months.
The first batch of H1N1 vaccine will likely be given to schoolchildren, as younger kids seem to be more at risk to contract the virus, also known as swine flu.
Last year, Hudson had one confirmed case of the disease.
"They will get preferential treatment," Lyons said.
While the vaccine will be "in short supply initially," he said, the goal of the clinics is to inoculate every resident to avoid the spread of H1N1. The vaccination includes two shots 28 days apart.
Town officials hope to have weekly or biweekly H1N1 clinics when the vaccine is available.
The School Department has also created a page on the department's Web site dedicated to providing students, parents and community members with alerts and updates on the H1N1 virus. Lyons said the site offers advice to parents, as well as state and local Board of Health updates and ways to avoid the virus.
"There are some resources on there, like excellent government sites to go to for information about protecting your family and some of the things needed to minimize the impact of H1N1 when it gets going," Lyons said.
The superintendent also encouraged residents to attend a seasonal flu clinic at the high school on Oct. 3. An average of 37,000 people in the United States die each year from seasonal flu, Lyons said.
"That surprises a lot of people," he said.
Town health officials expect about 800 residents to participate in the seasonal flu clinic this year. About 500 attended last year's clinic. Thousands are anticipated for the H1N1 clinics.
In other business, School Committee and JFK Building Committee member Tamara Ducey announced the selection of PNA Associates as the project manager for the JFK Middle School renovation project.
The committee reviewed 12 applications and narrowed the choice to three before choosing PNA Associates.
"We all felt very good about the choice," Ducey said.
In May, Town Meeting approved the School Department's request for a $391,700 feasibility study to determine whether to rebuild or renovate the 45-year-old middle school, which has overcrowding and structural problems.
Lyons also recently sent a letter to parents about the effect the Public Works Department's six ongoing water and sewer projects will have on bus transportation.
Some bus stops will be moved, and administrators will be in daily contact with households whose bus stops will be affected. Buses may also be delayed on all routes, Lyons said.
"This is going to be disruptive to getting around town, but very disruptive to our student transportation system," he said. "Please keep an extra eye out for the safety of kids."
http://www.wickedlocal.com/hudson/news/x581520130/Hudson-planning-swine-flu-shot-clinics-in-October
Thu Sep 10, 2009, 07:19 AM EDT
HUDSON - With the H1N1 vaccine expected to arrive sometime next month, Superintendent Kevin Lyons said the town will hold flu shot clinics later in the month or in early November.
Lyons told the School Committee on Tuesday night that administrators and the Board of Health have been planning the clinics over the past few months.
The first batch of H1N1 vaccine will likely be given to schoolchildren, as younger kids seem to be more at risk to contract the virus, also known as swine flu.
Last year, Hudson had one confirmed case of the disease.
"They will get preferential treatment," Lyons said.
While the vaccine will be "in short supply initially," he said, the goal of the clinics is to inoculate every resident to avoid the spread of H1N1. The vaccination includes two shots 28 days apart.
Town officials hope to have weekly or biweekly H1N1 clinics when the vaccine is available.
The School Department has also created a page on the department's Web site dedicated to providing students, parents and community members with alerts and updates on the H1N1 virus. Lyons said the site offers advice to parents, as well as state and local Board of Health updates and ways to avoid the virus.
"There are some resources on there, like excellent government sites to go to for information about protecting your family and some of the things needed to minimize the impact of H1N1 when it gets going," Lyons said.
The superintendent also encouraged residents to attend a seasonal flu clinic at the high school on Oct. 3. An average of 37,000 people in the United States die each year from seasonal flu, Lyons said.
"That surprises a lot of people," he said.
Town health officials expect about 800 residents to participate in the seasonal flu clinic this year. About 500 attended last year's clinic. Thousands are anticipated for the H1N1 clinics.
In other business, School Committee and JFK Building Committee member Tamara Ducey announced the selection of PNA Associates as the project manager for the JFK Middle School renovation project.
The committee reviewed 12 applications and narrowed the choice to three before choosing PNA Associates.
"We all felt very good about the choice," Ducey said.
In May, Town Meeting approved the School Department's request for a $391,700 feasibility study to determine whether to rebuild or renovate the 45-year-old middle school, which has overcrowding and structural problems.
Lyons also recently sent a letter to parents about the effect the Public Works Department's six ongoing water and sewer projects will have on bus transportation.
Some bus stops will be moved, and administrators will be in daily contact with households whose bus stops will be affected. Buses may also be delayed on all routes, Lyons said.
"This is going to be disruptive to getting around town, but very disruptive to our student transportation system," he said. "Please keep an extra eye out for the safety of kids."
http://www.wickedlocal.com/hudson/news/x581520130/Hudson-planning-swine-flu-shot-clinics-in-October