Henrico schools to offer free swine flu vaccinations
Henrico County will be giving H1N1 influenza vaccinations at schools. Parents were notified by phone messages last night and will receive an information packet from their child's school today or tomorrow, according to Henrico school officials.
Parents must return the consent form by Friday for the child to receive the vaccine. A child's health history information will determine if the flu mist or flu shot will be administered. If the nurse is unable to contact a parent to clarify a response, the vaccination will not be given.
Henrico public schools have been seeing an increase in absenteeism and clinic visits among students and staff with flulike symptoms, according to an announcement of the program. Schools are partnering with the Henrico County Health Department to decrease the spread of the new H1N1 influenza, also known as "swine flu."
Flu prevention tips are available on the Henrico schools Web site: http://www.henrico.k12.va.us.
Reader Reactions
Chesterfield Schools are going to be giving out flu shots. I just got a phone call about it.
I hope Hanover does it as well!
To the person who is questioning the cost of this to the county…This vaccination, just like the flu vaccination is government funded. Which means it doesn’t cost anything to the providers of the vaccinations. When you pay for the flu shot, you are paying the provider to give it to you. More then likely the schools are having volunteers come in to give the shots, which means its not costing you anything.
Geez, some people will complain about anything. Even if my taxes went to pay for this, it would be ok with me, considering the effect this specific flu is having on children.
I received the regular flu shot that is not a live virus, but the h1n1 is a live virus, so if you want the simple shot than you go ahead and get it.
How much is this costing the county to do and out of what budget?
An out-of-control pandemic would cost a lot more to tax payers than the flu shots.
That’s one problem with our health care system today - lack of preventative measures to stop diseases from happening before they start. This is especially evident in the polls that I’ve seen regarding the flu vaccine. Only 30% of people plan to even get a vaccine! Ridiculous!
In the case of forcing nurses in NY to get the shot - I don’t see anything wrong with that. Your job as a nurse is to protect and help patients. Also, I believe that health care workers are required to get other vaccines in order to be employed - how is this any different? (On a side note, school children cannot attend school without the correct vaccinations.) This is a public safety issue. If you want to put the public at risk because you don’t want a simple shot, then you definitely are in the wrong profession. There are always requirements for a job, and this is one of them.
Richmond sent home permission forms for the free shots yesterday. For some reason they are not offering the mist in the city?
I think that it is crazy, that in some places (new york) they are forcing health care workers to receive this vaccine, sorry but that should be a personal choice, especially when alot of this vaccine is made in China. People that are old. very young, and have health issues, but not if you don’t want too.
How much is this costing the county to do and out of what budget?
I sure hope they can explain the cost to employees who could possibly be getting laid off as they board works on next year’s budget!
I hope Richmond and Hanover also follow the lead of Henrico.
Re the increase in absenteeism - this is a good thing. Parents are keeping sick children at home as urged by the school divisions.
I hope Chesterfield does the same.
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