Swine flu immunizations being given in schools </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 6:39 PM on Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Swine flu immunizations being given in schools

By McKibben Jackinsky

Immunizations against H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, are being given to students of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, according to Naomi Walsworth of Homer, the district's health services coordinator.

Letters to parents and permission slips to give the immunizations were sent home earlier this year, and Walsworth reports about 60 percent of those have been returned.

Photo by McKibben Jackinsky

West Homer Elementary School student Hayden Strauss-Chase, 11, is given an H1N1 vaccination by Vi Stone, a volunteer registered nurse, during a clinic at the school Tuesday morning.

"Of those, about half want it and half don't," Walsworth said. "In the end I think we'll get 25-30 percent vaccinated through the schools."

That doesn't take into consideration other students who fall in any of several high-risk categories who may have already been immunized through their health care provider or at the Public Health Center.

So far, enrollment in schools is staying consistent to past years, with no more absences as a whole.

"Occasionally, schools get a blip of illness that lasts 3-5 days and then goes down, but it's nothing severe to the point that we've had concerns about closing a school," Walsworth said. "We are seeing kids stay home, which is great."

The schedule of immunizations stretches into December, but Walsworth is hoping enough vaccine will be available that they can be done sooner.

Following is the schedule of schools on the southern Kenai Peninsula that have not yet held clinics. For more information, see the district's Web site at www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us.

Homer Flex, first week of December;

Homer High School, first week of December;

Homer Middle School, first week of December;

Nanwalek School, in progress;

Port Graham School, in progress;

Connections, first week of December.

"If your child has health concerns which make him or her more vulnerable to complications from influenza, we encourage you to speak with your health care provider to check on obtaining the vaccine at an earlier date in another venue," Walsworth wrote in a letter to parents.

A child is at high risk for flu complications if he or she has any of the following conditions:

* Asthma;

* Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve and muscle;

* Chronic lung disease, such as cystic fibrosis;

* Heart disease, such as congenital heart disease and congestive heart failure;

* Blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease;

* Endocrine disorders, such as diabetes mellitus;

* Kidney disorders;

* Liver disorders;

* Metabolic disorders, such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders; and

* Weakened immune system due to disease or medication, such as people with HIV or AIDS, cancer or those on chronic steroids.