By Julianna Parker Jones
With the H1N1 vaccine's arrival in Oklahoma, many school-aged children will be receiving the vaccine soon.
The Cleveland County Health Department in conjunction with Norman Public Schools conducted the first-school based H1N1 vaccine clinic at Washington Elementary School before students left on fall break last week, said Sharon Howard, NPS health services coordinator.
About 200 of Washington's more than 600 students were vaccinated with the FluMist nasal flu vaccine in the free clinic last week, she said. She said she was pleased with the results.
"If we get a third of our kids to participate we're thrilled," she said.
Adams and Wilson elementary students will have the opportunity to be vaccinated against swine flu this week, Howard said. Students are vaccinated only when parents have filled out a consent form for their child, she said. Some teachers under the age of 50 also will receive the vaccinations.
"Eventually the plan is we'll be doing the FluMist clinics at all the schools," she said.
Schools will follow in an order based on which sites have seen the most flu cases so far, said Shari Kinney, administrator of the Cleveland and McClain County Health Departments.
"We're doing it based on schools that have an increase in absenteeism so that's what we're focusing on now, what we call outbreak prevention," she said.
Other local flu clinics:
· 12:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, Little Axe Community Center, 1000 168th Ave. N.E. for children 6 months to 18 years, seasonal flu mist and shots; children 6 months to 18 years with chronic conditions, H1N1 flu shots; and school age children, H1N1 mist
· 1-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Noble School Administration, 111 S. 4th St. in Noble for children 6 months to 18 years, seasonal flu mist and shots; children 6 months to 18 years with chronic conditions, H1N1 flu shots; and school age children, H1N1 mist
For more information, contact the Cleveland County Health Department Norman office at 321-4048.
· 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, First Baptist Church Conference Center, 301 NE 27th for adult flu shots before noon; child flu shots and mist ages 6 months to 18 years
Additional flu vaccine for adults will be available by the end of November. For more information, contact the Cleveland County Health Department Moore office at 794-1591.
· 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, First Baptist Church in Blanchard, 919 N.E. 10th St. for children 6 months to 18 years, seasonal flu mist and shots; children 6 months to 18 years with chronic conditions, H1N1 flu shots; and school age children, H1N1 mist
For more information, contact the McClain County Health Department Blanchard office at 485-3319 or the Purcell office at 527-6541.
Julianna Parker Jones 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com
