H1NI Vaccines In Schools

Children are one of the most at-risk groups for H1N1, and area school systems including Washington County, TN, Washington County, VA, Sullivan County, Carter County, Greene County, and Unicoi County want to make sure they are protected from the illness.

Workers at the Northeast Tennessee Regional Health Department are collaborating with city and county school systems to make plans for student h1n1 virus vaccinations.

However, the Health Department still has not received enough vaccine for every school at the moment.

“We expect to get enough vaccine, we’re just not sure how long it’s going to take, so that’s why we’re not setting any definite dates,“ said Director of Communicable Diseases Jamie Swift.

Still, area schools are making plans and remaining hopeful that children six months or older could be vaccinated by mid-November.

Johnson City Schools’ Director of Secondary and Student Services Janie Snyder discussed some of those plans with 11 Connects today.

“What we’ve decided in Johnson City is to have clinics not at every single school during the school day, but at strategic locations within the city school system and for afternoons,“ said Snyder.

Other county school systems may opt to provide the vaccinations during school hours. The health department is leaving the decision up to school administrators.

And even though there are no dates set, Health Department officials remind of the importance of students getting the H1N1 vaccine.

“We really wanna make sure that the children in TriCities are protected. We encourage them to stay in touch with their local health department or their pediatrician and if they can go ahead and get the vaccine. They don’t have to wait on us to get into the schools,“ said Swift.

If parents haven’t received one already, schools will be sending out consent forms that must be signed for their child to be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus.