Richmond-area schools to offer free swine-flu vaccinations

In the coming weeks, area schools in partnership with regional health departments will be offering free school-based H1N1 flu-vaccination clinics to protect students against the virus that has been blamed for several deaths in Virginia.

"The number of cases is increasing," said Dr. William R. Nelson, director of the Chesterfield County Health District. "It's clear that we're in a significant outbreak."

The flu activity continues to increase across the United States, with 37 states, including Virginia, reporting widespread activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Eight deaths in Virginia have been attributed to the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu. Nationally, the CDC is reporting more than 900 flu-related deaths. In comparison, seasonal flu kills an estimated 36,000 people annually.

Nelson said it is important to vaccinate students to reduce the number of school absences. His department staff will work with the school districts of Henrico, Chesterfield and Powhatan counties and the city of Colonial Heights to administer free H1N1 vaccines at each school, he said. The vaccinations begin Monday at the elementary level in Chesterfield and Oct. 26 in Henrico. He said he wasn't sure when they will start in Colonial Heights and Powhatan.

"How many schools we do each day will depend on the vaccine supply," Nelson said.

The vaccine is available for about half of the students, and demand for the voluntary vaccination won't be known until administration starts, Nelson said. But if more vaccine is needed, his department can obtain it, he said.

Henrico schools notified parents by phone message Tuesday night with information on the free flu-shot clinics. Parents were advised to complete a consent form and return it by tomorrow if they want their children to be vaccinated. The child's health history information will determine whether the flu mist or flu shot will be administered, parents were told. A student will not receive the vaccine if a nurse is unable to contact a parent to clarify a response.

Henrico schools are seeing an increase in absenteeism and clinic visits of students and staff with flulike symptoms.

Chesterfield schools spokesman Shawn Smith said letters with information on the vaccine clinics were going out yesterday and today to parents with children in elementary school. Consent forms will be available at the schools, he said. The clinics for the middle and high schools have not been scheduled. Consent forms for those parents will be included in the letters, he said.

Richmond will start vaccine clinics at the elementary school level Monday. Hanover County schools will be offering school-based vaccine clinics, but details and schedules were still being worked out, spokeswoman Dale Theakston said.

Regional health directors encouraged parents to take advantage of the free H1N1 vaccine being offered in schools and to complete the consent forms.

"The most recent vaccine shipment received will allow us to protect the health of our children and young adults, who are among the groups most at risk," Kay Rankin, the director of the Crater Health District, which covers the Tri-Cities area, said a written statement. "They are the ones who tend to be in close contact at school and the workplace."

Nelson said the nasal and injected H1N1 vaccine are similar to ordinary flu shots.

"They're both safe vaccines," he said.

Contact Juan Antonio Lizama at (804) 649-6513 or .