Vaccinating children in schools for H1N1
When schools open this year, school officials will have another worry: the swine flu. Health officials are predicting a larger than usual number of students will be out sick with either the seasonal flu or the swine flu, and they are asking schools to help vacinate the school-aged population. In a story that ran over the weekend, we talked about the possible need for schools and colleges to do mass vaccinations in hopes of stemming the spread of the virus in this susceptible population. We were wondering if parents want their children vaccinated at school and if they would be willing to be involved in helping in schools to get the job done? The health department believes the community and particularly parents will have to be part of a volunteer effort on the days the vaccine is offered. Parents could escort children from their classroom to the place at school where they will get the vaccinations, for instance. It is likely that schools will have to give the vaccine twice about two weeks apart for a student to get the full immunity.
Are parents and teachers nervous about the flu season ahead or do they feel there is no need to get alarmed now because the flu does not seem to be any worse than the seasonal flu?
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Comments
I would LOVE to have the option of having my children vaccinated at school. My office offers flu shots each year (I pay the cost, of course - something like $25). But I have to make a special trip to my doctor's for the kids to get their shots. Shots at school would be great, and I would certainly be willing to pay the cost of the shot to have the convenience.
I know some people don't like vaccinations, but they don't have to participate. I had influenza in school and had to be hospitalized and almost died. I have gotten a flu shot every year since then. Unfortunately, a lot of people call rhinoviruses (colds) "the flu" - it isn't and real influenza isn't something to mess around with!
Posted by: Baltomommie | August 18, 2009 10:43 AM
I am opposed to vaccinations for H1N1 for two main reasons: the flu in the southern hemisphere has not morphed into a more serious and deadly strain and the WHO has even stopped counting victims, so how serious can it be? The other reason is that the vaccine has been rushed to market with very little testing to prove either its safety or effectiveness.
Please do some reading on this issue before you buy into all the hype that is out there; in particular, read up on the use of the squalene adjuvant and its serous side-effects. ....and be sure and ask yourself who is making money on this deal. The first swine flu vaccine proved very dangerous and there were very few cases of actual illness. There was far more harm from the vaccine with Guillaume Barre syndrome.
Posted by: A. Bracken | August 25, 2009 9:15 PM