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Flu Forms

H1N1 Update from the Mass Dept of Health, November 14

Download the updated information.

H1N1 Flu Vaccine Followup, November 9

We have received a number of calls since our message went out about the H1N1 flu vaccine clinic planned for this Thursday from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm at Noyes Elementary.  I want to clarify a few major points and ask for your cooperation in making this clinic a smooth, calm, and successful endeavor.

  • Please do not arrive at Noyes prior to 4:15 pm.  Noyes bus dismissal occurs in the front of the building. All traffic is prohibited from driving into the access drive and the parking lot between 3:10 pm and when the last bus leaves.  This generally occurs about 4:00 pm.  Staff and volunteers have to set up the clinic in the gym after school is dismissed so will not be available to answer questions or organize early arriving parents.
  • Parking may be limited because staff will still be at school and town staff are also in their offices.  Overflow parking is at the Methodist Church parking lot across Rte 27. There is no school parking on the east side of the Flynn Building.
  • We believe we have a sufficient number of intranasal doses for kindergarten students for whom their parents earlier indicated an interest.  We will not be able to accommodate siblings or other students at this time. Noyes students will not be given preferential treatment because the clinic is located in their school.  Approval forms must be completed at the site and parents must accompany their child.
  • We have approximately 90 doses of the injectable H1N1 flu vaccine.  We believe this should be sufficient for most of the students in grades k-5 who require the injection type of vaccine.  Our nurses are aware of who these students are; please do not attempt to acquire a shot because of preference.  We want to vaccinate as many of our students with underlying health issues as possible.
  • Finally, we understand that the H1N1 vaccine is in high demand. We want this experience to be done in a calm, organized and respectful manner.  We are counting on volunteers to assist our nurses who are giving their own time to provide the clinic. Please treat them with respect.  We need your help in making this a successful clinic.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.   

Providing all goes well, we will be announcing our next clinic as soon as we receive a new shipment of vaccine.

  Thanks
John

H1N1 Flu Vaccine Update, November 9

Please read this message carefully and share with those who may not receive it or who choose not to view it.

We have just received our first shipment of the H1N1 vaccine; a very small number of doses of intranasal vaccine and even smaller number of injectable vaccine.

Because we are seeing an upsurge in the number of student absences due to flu-like symptoms, we want to get these doses out to students as soon as possible. Obviously 150 doses does not go very far and forces us to make a difficult decision about who should receive the vaccine first.

We will be hosting a flu-clinic for the group of SPS students noted below on Thursday, November 12, from 4:30 pm to 7:00 p.m. at the Noyes gym. Students must be accompanied by parent and all paperwork and approvals will be completed at the clinic. Because the approval form must be signed by a parent, babysitters, friends or neighbors cannot accompany the child.

This first distribution will be limited to only:

a) Kindergarten students (sorry pre-K will be served in subsequent clinics) from our four elementary schools who are eligible for intranasal vaccine. This includes students who have not already had a H1N1 vaccine and who typically do not have underlying health issues such as asthma, respiratory illnesses, or diabetes.

And

b) Students in grades k-5 who require (not prefer) an injectable vaccine. This typically includes students who have asthma, diabetes, respiratory illnesses or other underlying health issues. Our school nurses generally know which students fall within this category but if you have questions, please check with your school nurse in advance. We have received only 90 doses of the injectable vaccine and we will distribute them to this group of students as long as the supply lasts.

We hope to receive more doses of the H1N1 vaccine soon and will alert you to our distribution plan at that time. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Important Reminders:

  1. This phase is the H1N1 vaccine only. It is, of course, voluntary.
  2. Second doses of the seasonal flu vaccine for those under 9 years old who had a first dose with us will be delayed so that we can provide the H1N1 vaccine as soon as possible. We will provide the 2nd dose of the seasonal but feel the H1N1 vaccine is a higher priority and do not want to delay that possibility by at least 28 days by administering the seasonal flu vaccine now.
  3. With the growing number of students showing symptoms of the flu (fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue), please help us by keeping your child home from school and isolated from others until 24 hours after the fever returns to normal without the use of medication. If you child presents these symptoms, do not send them to school. If they present the symptoms at school, our nurses will send the child home.
  4. Continue to remind everyone to take the flu-precautions seriously. Wash your hands frequently, cough into your sleeve, get plenty of rest and avoid those (in your home or outside the home) with flu-like symptoms.
  5. We will distribute vaccine as soon as we receive it however we have no advance warning or information about when, and how much, vaccine will be received. If you have a chance to get the vaccine from your doctor or pediatrician, I recommend you take advantage of that.
  6. An excellent source of information about the H1N1 flu is the Mass Department of Public Health web site or the web site of the CDC.

Questions about your child's health and the advisability of receiving the vaccine should be directed to your physician. Our school nurses are available to answer questions about this clinic and specific requirements for this phase of the distribution plan.

Thank you for your support,
John

Next Phase of Season Flu Vaccine Planned for Thursday, October 15

Following the successful administration of the seasonal flu mist vaccine to 380 pre-K through grade 3 students last Friday, we have been informed that we now have sufficient doses to complete all students in grades 4 and 5.

On Thursday, October 15, we will administer the seasonal flu mist to pre-K to grade 3 students who were unable to attend the clinic on Friday and all grade 4 and 5 students for whom we have an approval form. Students will receive the vaccine at their elementary school during the school day. The school's nurse and other volunteer nurses will be administering the vaccine.

If you have not completed an approval form or now would like to have your child receive the vaccine, please read the Vaccine Information Statement(VIS) carefully, complete the approval form (both found on the district's web site), and send it to your school nurse. If sufficient doses are available, we will include your child.

A few important reminders and updates:

  1. The seasonal flu mist will be administered.
  2. The mist is not appropriate for students with asthma or other underlying medical issues (please review the Vaccination Information Statement.) This is an important issue and we are relying on parents to carefully consider this.
  3. There must be 28 days between doses of any type of intranasal vaccination. Therefore, if your child has had a vaccine within the 28 days, this administration will not be accessible.
  4. If your child has received a seasonal flu vaccine after you submitted the approval form to the school, please contact your school nurse. If we are not informed, we will proceed with the administration of the vaccine per the approval form on file.
  5. We have heard that several local pediatricians have received limited doses of the H1N1 vaccine (mist); it is not certain how they will be allocating this small number of doses. We want to emphasize the 28-day separation requirement between doses of either the seasonal or the H1N1 flu intranasal vaccine.
  6. We still have no information about delivery of the any H1N1 vaccine or the inactivated (flu shot) version of the seasonal or H1N1. Our future planning and phases of this program will be dependent on the receipt of additional seasonal flu or the initial supply of H1N1 vaccine.
  7. As always, our recommendation is to consult your pediatrician on any medical or health decision. We acknowledge there is unfortunately some uncertainty with our receipt of vaccine; if you are anxious to have your child vaccinated and you can find another source, you may want to take that option.

Thank you
John

October 4, 2009 Update

Flu Vaccine FAQ

September 22, 2009 Update

Planning for our school based seasonal and H1N1 flu clinics for our students is progressing.  Thank you for responding to our Statement of Interest request, and for those interested in taking advantage of the school based flu clinic, the permission form for the seasonal flu vaccine. 

If you have not yet responded, you may obtain the forms by clicking on http://www.sudbury.k12.ma.us/fluinfo.pdf

Remember, we want everyone to return the interest form, even if you do not intend to have your child vaccinated at the school clinic.

Soon after announcing our plan last week, we were informed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health that our receipt of seasonal flu vaccine, originally thought to be available in early October, would be delayed for several weeks.  This is due to the production and resource prioritization for the H1N1 vaccine.

Thus, we are now being told that the seasonal flu vaccine may be delivered in late October and the H1N1 flu vaccine may be available in early November.  They are advising that clinics consider offering both vaccines at the same time.

This does not change our intent; it only changes the timing.  We continue to work with public health officials to determine the best way to provide this service and help keep our children healthy and in school.   We are sorry for any inconvenience this delay might cause you.  We believe the lack of availability has also impacted local pediatricians as well.  If you have indicated that your child would receive the vaccine at the school based clinic and you change your mind because of this delay, please let the nurse know. 

We will keep you informed on the status of the vaccine availability and the SPS plans to provide school based flu clinics.  Clearly, conditions continue to change. New and more precise information is being disseminated almost daily, so we need to remain flexible as we progress.

Thank you for your understanding as we work through this rather complex and very significant public health issue.

Urgent!!

SPS AND Lincoln-Sudbury RHS will be providing free seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccinations to our students in the upcoming weeks. Participation is voluntary.

We need your prompt assistance to ensure that we have sufficient doses and staffing available. Please click on the link below, read all the information carefully, and return the forms even if you do not want your child vaccinated at school. The deadline is Friday, September 25.

http://www.sudbury.k12.ma.us/fluinfo.pdf

Dates and schedules will be forthcoming. It is our intent to provide the intranasal mist vaccine for the season flu during the school day at each school. For those students requiring an injectable version, a single location will be designated at a time outside of the school day. Parents will be required to attend with their child for the injection.

After reading this information, if you have questions, please contact your child's school nurse.

Flu Info

The following updated guidance is now available regarding the Seasonal and Pandemic H1N1 Influenza for early education and care programs and to help programs provide information to parents:

  • For MA Early Childhood Program Administrators, Educators, and Health Care Consultants
  • For Parents and Guardians of Young Children in Massachusetts Enrolled in Early Education and Care Programs
  • Fall 2009 Influenza Guidance for Early Childhood Programs (September 18, 2009)
  • Flu Symptom Check List for Families and Child Care Programs (Updated August 31, 2009)
  • FAQs for Parents about Flu in Child Care Centers (September 18, 2009)
  • Fight the Flu - Educational Flyer for Use in Programs

To view these documents, please visit: http://www.eec.state.ma.us/SwineFluUpdates.aspx - updated information will be posted as it is received.