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| Dear Day Middle School Families, |
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I wanted to pass along two letters from the Newton Health & Human Services Department.
The first, which appears directly below, describes the schedule for the seasonal flu vaccine, which is coming up in October. The other, which appears further below, contains information about flu-related issues in the Newton Public Schools, plus seasonal influenza and H1N1 (swine) influenza in a question and answer format.
Please remember if you want your child to receive the Flumist or vaccine for the seasonal flu, to send in a consent form and payment tomorrow.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Gayle Larson, RN
FA Day Middle School Nurse
617-559-9140
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From: Health and Human Services Department
J. David Naparstek, Commissioner
1294 Centre Street
Newton, MA 02459-1544
Telephone 617.796.1420 Fax 617.552.7063
TDD/TTY 617.796.1089
September 25, 2009
Dear Middle and High School Parents:
The dates have been set for the seasonal flu vaccine clinic at your child's school. The schedule is as follows:
Date School Time Location
Wednesday October 14 Day Middle School 8AM Exercise Room
Thursday October 15 South High School 7:30AM Health Office
Friday October 16 Oak Hill Middle School 8AM Cafeteria
Monday October 19 North High School 11:45AM Room M-22
Tuesday October 20 Brown Middle School 8:30AM Conference Room
Wednesday October 21 Bigelow Middle School 8AM Conference Room
A parental consent form and pre-payment of $25 for the flu shot and $35 for FluMist will be required to participate. The consent forms and vaccine information statements can be found in the school health room or on the City of Newton flu website: www.newtonma.gov/flu
For your child to receive seasonal flu vaccine at school, please return the following to the school nurse by September 30.
- The completed and signed consent form specific to the vaccine you want your child to have
- A check for $25 (flu shot) or $35 (FluMistŪ) made out to Maxim Health Systems
If you would like your child to receive the flu vaccine, but cannot afford the fee, please contact your school nurse.
The seasonal flu vaccine does not provide protection against H1N1 (swine) flu. Information about getting the H1N1 vaccine at school will be provided in October. As always, do not hesitate to contact your school nurse or the health department at (617) 796-1420 if you need more information or clarification.
Sincerely,
Ruth Hoshino, School Nurse Supervisor
Newton Health & Human Services Department
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From: Health and Human Services Department
J. David Naparstek, Commissioner
1294 Centre Street
Newton, MA 02459-1544
Telephone 617.796.1420 Fax 617.552.7063
TDD/TTY 617.796.1089
Flu Update #3
September 25, 2009
This update is to keep you fully informed about pandemic influenza related issues in the Newton Public Schools. Absence data from the first three weeks of school continues to show low levels of influenza-like illness (ILI) among students and staff members. This week, fewer than 7 students or adults per school were absent each day due to known ILI.
The focus remains on keeping sick children out of schools. Parents are an important part of this process. Please monitor your children for signs of illness. If they are sick, keep them at home and let the school know the reason for the absence.
Plans for vaccination clinics for both seasonal influenza and H1N1 (swine) influenza are underway. Here is some updated information in a question and answer format. As always, do not hesitate to contact your school nurse or the health department at (617) 796-1420 if you need more information or clarification.
Where can my child receive a seasonal flu vaccine?
Preschool & Elementary school students (Pre-K through 5th grade) should visit their pediatrician or a public clinic open to their age group. Information about these clinics is available at http://masspro.org or on the Newton website at www.newtonma.gov/flu
Middle and High school students (6th through 12th grade) can visit their pediatrician, a public clinic, or pay to receive vaccine at school in mid-October. Information about this program is available at www.newtonma.gov/flu or from your school nurse. Consent forms and checks are due to your school nurse by Sept. 30.
Where can my child receive an H1N1 flu vaccine?
The Newton Health & Human Services Department is committed to providing H1N1 flu vaccine to all Newton residents and Newton Public Schools students in grades K through 12. Plans for these free clinics are underway.
Preschool children should visit their pediatrician
Elementary school students (K through 5th grade) will be offered vaccine after school with their parents present in mid-November, pending vaccine availability. Dates for these clinics will be announced at school, by email and online.
Middle and High school students (6th through 12th grade) will be vaccinated either during or after school with a parental consent form. These clinics are expected to be in mid-November. Dates for these clinics will be announced at school, by email and online.
Will there be a charge for the H1N1 flu vaccine?
No. All Newton Health & Human Services H1N1 flu clinics will be free of charge.
Will the nasal spay flu vaccine be available for H1N1 vaccinations?
The intranasal form of the vaccine, FluMist, is being manufactured in an H1N1 flu formulation for healthy children and adults age 2 through 49. However, it is not known what types of H1N1 vaccine Newton will receive and whether H1N1 FluMist will be an option at our clinics.
Can you get seasonal flu vaccine and H1N1 flu vaccine on the same day?
Yes, it is clinically possible to get both the H1N1 flu vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine on the same day as long as long as at least one of the vaccines is the shot. We do not expect this option to be available at any of the October/November Newton clinics due to when each vaccine will be available. However, your child's pediatrician may give these two vaccines together.
When can my child receive the H1N1 vaccine after getting a seasonal vaccine?
There is not a minimum waiting period to receive H1N1 vaccine after getting a seasonal flu vaccine, or vice versa. This is based on early information that may change once the clinical guidance for the H1N1 vaccine is released. However, if you choose to receive both the H1N1 and the seasonal flu vaccine in the intranasal form, you must separate them by one month.
How will we find out about clinic dates?
Clinic dates will be announced via school email, City of Newton website at www.newtonma.gov/flu, your school nurse or by calling the health department
When is the best time to have my child vaccinated?
Your child can receive either vaccine at any time throughout the flu vaccination season. Seasonal flu typically peaks in New England around January or February.
When is my child protected after receiving a flu vaccine?
Seasonal flu vaccine typically protects people about two to three weeks after vaccination. Early information about the H1N1 vaccine indicates protection similar to the seasonal flu vaccine.
How many doses of H1N1 vaccine does my child need?
The specific clinical guidelines for H1N1 vaccine have not yet been released, but early information indicates the following:
Children age 10 and older need 1 dose of H1N1 vaccine
Children age 9 and younger need 2 doses of H1N1 vaccine spaced about 3 weeks apart.
If my child was sick this spring with flu-like symptoms, does s/he need the vaccine?
Unless your child had a laboratory test that confirming H1N1 influenza, it's possible s/he had something other than H1N1. Even if s/he had H1N1 influenza, we don't know how much immunity it will provide for the fall. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and CDC recommends H1N1 vaccine for everyone.
Is the H1N1 vaccine required for school attendance?
No. H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine are both recommended for children. However, flu vaccination is voluntary.
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The Day Middle School PTO
21 Minot Place
Newtonville, Massachusetts 02460
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