A Memo From Superintendent Dr. Antoinette Rath
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Dear Parents:
As you know, we have been working with the Burlington County Health Department and local emergency personnel in planning voluntary in-school vaccination clinics for the H1N1 vaccine. At this point, we have tentatively established clinic dates as October 27, 28 and 29 in the Mount Laurel Schools, provided that the county receives a sufficient
supply of vaccine in time.
The schedule is as follows:
October 27:
Countryside, Springville & Fleetwood
October 28:
Hartford & Parkway
October 29:
Harrington, Hillside & Larchmont
Children under the age of 10 will require a second dose of the vaccine at least 21 days later. The dates of those clinics will be forthcoming.
First, I must tell you that our school nurses have been working very hard throughout this process. They have been diligent in looking at every aspect of the clinic operations to be certain that we are prepared for this undertaking. We are very appreciative.
Since this is new territory for all of us, I would like to address some of the questions I am sure you have as parents.
Who will be getting the H1N1 inoculation?
This is a public service being conducted by the Mount Laurel Schools at the request of the Burlington County Health Department in the hopes of reaching as many children as possible. This is a totally voluntary program. In order for a student to be vaccinated during the clinic, parents must complete and return the authorized consent form. Those forms will be forthcoming to all parents next week, and have been supplied by the
county. No child will be inoculated without specific written parent permission via the authorized consent form. Our in-school clinics are open only to current Mount Laurel School students.
I have heard that some school districts are holding evening clinics. Why are Mount Laurel's clinics being held during the school day?
Our decision to hold clinics during the school day was based on two primary factors. First, committing to daytime clinics places Mount Laurel Schools higher on the priority list to receive vaccine supplies. Secondly, health officials have urged districts to hold daytime clinics if at all possible because they are thought to be the best method of immunizing the highest number of children. Reaching the most students first may
assure that we control the spread of H1N1 in Mount Laurel down the road.
Will our school nurses be administering the inoculations?
No. Certified personnel supplied by the county health department will administer the vaccinations. Our school nurses will be the operational managers of the clinics.
How will the clinics impact our school schedules?
Obviously, this is an abnormal occurrence in our schools, and I'm certain that everyone will feel its impact upon our educational program on clinic days. However, this is not totally foreign to our operations. We filter all students through routine health screenings and yearly photos in a very short amount of time. All efforts will be made to minimize disruption to the educational program on clinic days.
Will students receive nasal mist or injection vaccines in our clinics?
We have been told to this point that the majority of our students will be able to receive the vaccine in the form of the nasal mist. However, the nasal mist vaccine is not recommended for children with certain health conditions such as asthma, a weakened immune system, and certain muscle and nerve disorders. In those cases, students will be inoculated with the flu shot. The cover letter accompanying consent forms next week will give more detailed information, and you may find specifics in the links to the two types of vaccine found in the links to the left.
How will we handle students who react negatively to the prospect of the vaccination?
Students who have permission to be inoculated, but who display heightened anxiety, will not be inoculated in school. They will be sent home with a note explaining that their anxiety level precluded inoculation, and parents will be advised to consult their family physician for the vaccine.
May parents accompany their child for inoculation during clinics?
No. Those parents wishing to accompany their child should see their pediatrician or family physician for their child's inoculation. As stated earlier, these are school days and for reasons of security and continuity of education, we are making all efforts to minimize disruptions other than those that will inherently be present in the clinics and with clinic personnel.
How will parent permission forms be handled?
This is a public service. It is not mandatory, and parents will have the option to have their child vaccinated in school, at their family physician or pediatrician's office, or not at all. Obviously, it is urged that all children receive the H1N1 vaccine to guard against the spread of the flu, but this is a parent's choice. Permission forms will be supplied by the Burlington County Health Department and will be sent home with all students and
posted on our website for download and completion.
How do I decide if my child should be vaccinated?
This is a very important decision for you as a parent, and one that should be made in consultation with your pediatrician or family physician. Please study the information you receive with your consent forms carefully, as well as the links we have provided on our website from the Center for Disease Control for more general information. You may also
pose questions to the Burlington County Health Department, which is our lead health agency, at 609-265-5548.
Is there a cost involved for inoculation in our in-school clinics?
No. The federal government is covering all costs involved in public H1N1 vaccination clinics. |
Voluntary H1N1 In-School Vaccination Clinic Dates Set By County