School vaccinations to begin

A vaccination for H1N1 influenza is awaiting some elementary school students around the Shoals as they return to school Monday.

Students in grades K-3 at Waterloo, Underwood and Cloverdale schools in the Lauderdale County system and Forest Hills in the Florence system who have parental approval will receive a nasal spray vaccination Monday.

Vaccination clinics also are scheduled for later this week at G.W. Trenholm and R.E. Thompson schools in Tuscumbia and Central and Brooks in the Lauderdale system.

Clinics are scheduled for next week at Rogers, Lexington, Anderson and Lauderdale County schools in the Lauderdale system, Weeden and Harlan schools in the Florence system and in the Sheffield and Muscle Shoals school systems.

The vaccination clinics will continue at other schools around the Tennessee Valley through early January.

The H1N1 virus is commonly called swine flu.

Dr. Karen Landers, area health officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, said students who receive the nasal mist vaccine will need a second vaccination after Christmas break to ensure immunity. She said similar clinics are being held at schools throughout the state.

Bill Valentine, superintendent of Lauderdale County schools, said only students who have returned a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian will receive the vaccination. Some school systems will require a parent to be present for the vaccination.

Valentine said few parents have returned the permission slips so far.

"I don't know if it's because people have not had time to think this thing out, because they have concerns about the vaccine or because their children have already received a vaccination," he said.

Landers said the nasal vaccine, which uses a weakened live H1N1 virus, is safe.

The nasal vaccine cannot be given to children who are allergic to eggs or have asthma and certain other health conditions. Those children will need to receive an injectable version of the vaccine at their family physician or local health department office.

While local school systems report the number of children absent because of flu-like illnesses has dropped in the past month, Landers warns another wave of H1N1 influenza could sweep the Shoals.

"People are going to be traveling to other states, maybe even other countries, for the holidays," she said. "There is no telling what illnesses they might bring back to this area. The best way to avoid catching the flu is to be vaccinated."

State and federal health officials are urging that all children be vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 135 children in the United States have died from the H1N1 flu.

Landers said parents who do not want to wait for a vaccination clinic at their children's school should schedule a vaccination at a physician's office or visit their county health department.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@TimesDaily.com.