Commonground
Senior Moderator
September 13, 2009 11:35:05 PM EDT
BRATTLEBORO -- The state is moving ahead with its plan to offer swine flu vaccinations in the schools this year, and administrators are being asked to make decisions about whether they want to open their buildings for the optional program.
Health Commissioner Wendy Davis and Commissioner of Education Armando Vilaseca sent out letters to school superintendents and principals Friday to plan for the public health clinics, which would be the first time in decades that students are offered vaccinations in school.
"One of the target groups for initial vaccination is children and young adults age 6 months through 24 years," Vilaseca and Davis wrote in their joint letter. "In an effort to reach as many children as possible, the Health Department will make vaccinations available in schools."
Scientists have been rushing to make vaccinations for the 2009 H1N1 flu available and Vermont is expecting to start receiving the medicine in mid to late October.
Australian and American researchers announced this week that one dose of the swine flu vaccine will protect adults, meaning that more shots will be available as soon as scientists are ready to release them.
Scientists originally thought adults would need two shots.
In a study that was rushed out by the New England Journal of Medicine late Thursday, one shot prompted the same kind of immune response that is seen with regular flu vaccine. And a standard 15-microgram dose -- not the double dose that also was tested -- was enough.
The vaccine reports center on adults; studies in children aren?t finished yet.
The United States has ordered 195 million doses, based on the hope that 15 micrograms was the right dose. Had it taken twice that dosage, or two shots apiece, half as many people could have received the vaccine.
School administrators who elect to host the clinics in their schools are being asked to contact the health department by Sept. 18.
For the larger schools in the state, with 300 students and more, the Department of Health will offer to send staff to manage and run the clinics, as well as supplying all vaccinations free of charge.
Smaller schools will be offered vaccine, vaccination supplies and technical assistance, though school nurses will be responsible for administering vaccines and handling the documentation.
If schools elect not to have the clinics, administrators are still being asked to transport students to a nearby clinic or provide information to students on where the vaccine is available.
Some questions have been raised about liability for the school districts and Davis said the health department is trying to address those issues as quickly as possible.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Howard Weiss-Tisman can be reached at hwtisman@reform-er.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 279.
http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_13331165
BRATTLEBORO -- The state is moving ahead with its plan to offer swine flu vaccinations in the schools this year, and administrators are being asked to make decisions about whether they want to open their buildings for the optional program.
Health Commissioner Wendy Davis and Commissioner of Education Armando Vilaseca sent out letters to school superintendents and principals Friday to plan for the public health clinics, which would be the first time in decades that students are offered vaccinations in school.
"One of the target groups for initial vaccination is children and young adults age 6 months through 24 years," Vilaseca and Davis wrote in their joint letter. "In an effort to reach as many children as possible, the Health Department will make vaccinations available in schools."
Scientists have been rushing to make vaccinations for the 2009 H1N1 flu available and Vermont is expecting to start receiving the medicine in mid to late October.
Australian and American researchers announced this week that one dose of the swine flu vaccine will protect adults, meaning that more shots will be available as soon as scientists are ready to release them.
Scientists originally thought adults would need two shots.
In a study that was rushed out by the New England Journal of Medicine late Thursday, one shot prompted the same kind of immune response that is seen with regular flu vaccine. And a standard 15-microgram dose -- not the double dose that also was tested -- was enough.
The vaccine reports center on adults; studies in children aren?t finished yet.
The United States has ordered 195 million doses, based on the hope that 15 micrograms was the right dose. Had it taken twice that dosage, or two shots apiece, half as many people could have received the vaccine.
School administrators who elect to host the clinics in their schools are being asked to contact the health department by Sept. 18.
For the larger schools in the state, with 300 students and more, the Department of Health will offer to send staff to manage and run the clinics, as well as supplying all vaccinations free of charge.
Smaller schools will be offered vaccine, vaccination supplies and technical assistance, though school nurses will be responsible for administering vaccines and handling the documentation.
If schools elect not to have the clinics, administrators are still being asked to transport students to a nearby clinic or provide information to students on where the vaccine is available.
Some questions have been raised about liability for the school districts and Davis said the health department is trying to address those issues as quickly as possible.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Howard Weiss-Tisman can be reached at hwtisman@reform-er.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 279.
http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_13331165
