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Grading our schools on H1N1 preparedness
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(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The swine flu hit big last spring, and by midsummer Maryland had moved to try and minimize the impact of H1N1 on our schools. The state government was stressing flu prevention measures and getting the soon to be expected vaccine to all citizens once it became available.
No-one predicted the vaccine manufacturing problems that resulted in a shortage that persists today - although the future outlook for lessening shortages in the near future is optimistic.
To deal with that shortage, local governments on advice from the CDC eventually started distributing their allotments of the H1N1 vaccine to the 5 priority groups, with one of those groups most at risk determined to be “children and young adults aged 6 months to 24 years”. H1N1 is often referred to as the “young person’s flu” as it's considered to be most dangerous to children and younger adults.
With little fanfare and an eye toward those school systems determined to be at greatest risk at any given time – local health departments have been doing their best to get their H1N1 vaccine allotments out to the children. A more widely publicized announcement came from Baltimore City last week when Baltimore City schools sent home 80,000 consent forms for parents to allow their children to be vaccinated. Vaccine shortages notwithstanding, Baltimore hopes to have all of their school children who have submitted parental consent forms vaccinated by the end of November.
At the college level, Towson University will be holding its second H1N1 vaccine clinic this week targeting the priority groups.
Harford County has provided vaccinations for approximately 16 elementary and middle schools determined to be at the greatest risk in the area for contracting H1N1, is holding vaccine clinics for children at 2 more schools today, and recently held a community clinic at Ripkin Stadium for pregnant women and children ages 6 months though 18 years. Harford County will be scheduling additional school-based and community clinics as they receive more of the vaccine. Vaccine shipments continue to arrive in Maryland in limited amounts and are shared amongst the state's health departments for distribution as soon as they arrive.
The schools seem to be doing the best they can with what they have. I’m giving Baltimore City and Harford County schools an “A” for effort in trying to get their limited amounts of the vaccine out to the kids.
How would you grade your local school system in H1N1 preparedness?
Children and parents wait for their H1N1 vaccines at The Northwest Children's Practice in Chicago.
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
See Related Articles:
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- CDC: most flu indicators still on the rise
- Cold and flu prevention posters, free downloads for public postings
- 60 Minutes gives an inside look at H1N1 vaccine production, and more
- Flu vaccines for pregnant women also help protect their unborn babies
- New shipments of H1N1 swine flu vaccine arrive in Maryland
- H1N1 virus claims 2 more Maryland lives
- While Md. awaits H1N1 swine flu vaccine, doctors stress prevention
- Prioritize H1N1 vaccine to young children and pregnant women
- Controversy surrounds H1N1 vaccine administration methods at Baltimore city vaccine clinic
H1N1 / Flu Links:
- Flu.gov
- What Should Pregnant Women Know About 2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)?
- Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Vaccine Clinic Sites)
- What To Do If You Get Sick: 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu (Center for Disease Control)
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