News

Students to get flu vaccine at school, no community-wide clinic planned

By , Published: September 13, 2012

Henderson County students in grades K-12 will have the opportunity to get seasonal flu shots and FluMist® nasal spray at local middle schools this month. Thanks to a generous donation from Pardee Hospital and Park Ridge Health, the Henderson County Department of Public Health and the Henderson County Public Schools are able to offer flu vaccines to students at no charge.
With the availability of flu vaccine at grocery stores and pharmacies in our community, no community-wide clinic is planned. "Each year we try to evaluate areas of greatest need and limited access," said Betsy Alexander, Director of Nursing at the Department of Public Health. "This year we looked at the availability of vaccines in our community and felt that the area of greatest need is the children."

School nurses and other health department staff will offer vaccinations from 3:30 – 6:00 PM at Apple Valley Middle School on Tuesday, September 25; Flat Rock Middle School on Tuesday, October 2; Hendersonville Middle School on Tuesday, October 9; and at Rugby Middle School on Tuesday, October 16. Students age 5-18 from all Henderson County public, private, and home schools are encouraged to get a seasonal flu vaccine at any of these clinics.

The seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against the new H3N2v (swine) flu. H3N2v is a non-human influenza virus that normally circulates in pigs and has infected humans. There is no person-to-person risk of transmission at this time. The seasonal flu vaccine will protect against seasonal influenza viruses that are expected to circulate this season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommend vaccinating all children against seasonal flu.

Both injectable vaccine and FluMist®, a mist sprayed into the nose, will be available at the clinics. Not everyone is eligible for FluMist®. People with chronic heart or lung disease, such as asthma or reactive airways disease or those with medical conditions such as diabetes or a weakened immune system are not eligible for the mist, according to the CDC. Injectable vaccines will be available for students who do not qualify for FluMist®.

Consent forms are required before the vaccine can be given to a child. Forms will be distributed at the clinic or can be completed in advance by downloading one from the health department website at www.hendersoncountync.org/health. Parents/guardians should also bring Medicaid cards for children covered by this plan.

Parents or guardians are encouraged to accompany younger children to provide support. If a parent is unable to come, another person can accompany their child if the consent form is completed and signed by the parent or guardian. Students who can provide the needed information on the consent form may come unaccompanied.