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H1N1 Flu Innoculation Clinics for January

Dickinson County Health Department 1001 N. Brady • Abilene, KS 67410
(785) 263-4179 • FAX (785) 263-0335

January 5, 2010

To Parents of Elementary School Age Children:

In December 2009 the Dickinson County Health Department came to local elementary schools and began vaccinating children 5-9 years of age with the nasal formulation (LAIV) of vaccine against Influenza A (H1N1).  It is now time to vaccinate for the second dose of LAIV to those children who received the first dose in December.  

We understand that some children may have been ill on the day that we were at your school in December.  Therefore we are asking all parents of elementary aged children to sign the consent for vaccination, whether it is your child’s first dose or second dose, and return to your school by January 14, 2010.

We plan to be at the elementary schools on either January 15 or January 22, 2010 and are working with your school nurses to secure a date.   Parental consent is required for any child to receive a vaccination.  The H1N1 vaccine is provided FREE of charge through Health Department sponsored clinics.

Please note that this is our last effort to be in the schools to offer vaccine against H1N1.  We plan to offer walk in flu clinics monthly until CDC directs us to stop vaccination efforts.  

Currently about 11% of Dickinson County residents (all ages) have received the vaccine against H1N1, which is consistent with other counties in the State of Kansas.  Vaccine supply is now more available and is open to all persons 6 months of age and older.  Because of the low uptake and the recent holiday travels, CDC is predicting a “third wave” of influenza now that school is open again.  We saw the second wave in the fall of 2009 with the start of school.  

For your information:  
 1/5 of the US population can be found in a school during the weekday.

 Since 1875 we have seen 31 flu pandemics.

 A lot of misinformation exists about the nasal spray (LAIV).  Please see the following CDC website for the most accurate information.   http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/nasalspray_qa.htm

 According to Dr. Daniel Hintorn, Professor and Division Director, Infectious Diseases from KU Medical Center, Influenza viruses are recoverable on the following surfaces:

Objects Virus Survives
Hard, non-porous surface 24-48 hours
Plastic 24 hours
Stainless steel 24 hours
Cloth (such as Dracula cover for sneezes/coughs) 8-12 hours
Hands (hand washing is important!) 5 minutes

Finally, the Health Department has arranged for the following walk in flu clinics for the month of January.  Feel free to attend either of these should others in your family need to be vaccinated.  Both seasonal flu vaccine (cost $30) and H1N1 vaccine will be available.  Most insurance plans are accepted.

01-19-2010 01-26-2010
3:00-7:00pm 3:00-7:00pm
First Christian Church Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
7th & Buckeye, Abilene 802 E. Trapp, Herington

If you have any questions, please call the Dickinson County Health Department at 263-4179.

Respectfully,

Linda Davies, RN, BSN
Senior Health Nurse

Enclosures