CLEARFIELD – Becky Short, school nurse for Centre Elementary, presented the district’s current management of the H1N1 virus, in addition to the possibility of a mass immunization clinic to the Clearfield Area School District’s Board of Directors at Monday night’s regular meeting.
“It is very important to have a plan,” she said. She said that Superintendent Richard C. Makin and the district’s nursing staff have been in touch with the Department of Health.
She said they have registered for a mass immunization clinic through the DOH. She said as a school nurse, she cannot give the vaccination without approval from the school doctor who would direct the clinic.
Short said the DOH is strongly encouraging schools to get on board for mass immunizations.
“Many schools are hesitant because it’s a great liability,” Short said. She said she has spoken with representatives from the DOH about those same concerns.
She said the DOH would send their own nurses if the district properly planned the clinic. She said they would also do so only if the school doctor provided his license number and ordered the vaccinations.
Short said the district probably would not receive the vaccine until December or January. She said it would come slowly, as it’s not a “high risk area,” such as Philadelphia. She said they have had doctor-diagnosed cases in the district. She said they have only had a single lab-confirmed case.
She said they need to establish plans to determine guidelines for school closure and home learning. She said they should consider staff absenteeism ahead of that of the students. She said around 130 schools are currently closed across the United States due to the H1N1 virus.
Makin said he has not learned of any established guidelines for school closure.
“I think it’s one of those things that we’ll know it when we see it,” he said.
Short said she has spoken with area doctors and pediatricians. She said that they are “overwhelmed with sick kids.”
She said health officials have observed a wave of the H1N1 virus in April, again now and are expecting another around January. She said she believed a mass immunization clinic was doable for the district.
“I think it’s something that we can do to help the community,” she said.
She said if a clinic was held, it would be free to district students. She said it would not be offered to parents. She said the DOH prefers for districts to hold the mass immunizations during the school day.
She said the H1N1 virus was initially detected in April and thought to be found in pigs. She, however, said the virus is carried in not only pigs, but also in both birds and humans.
Short said that the H1N1 virus mainly affects the 25 years and under age grouping. She said that most individuals who are within this cohort aren’t immune to the virus.
She said that in August, the school nurses participated in a Webinar in order to become more educated about the virus.
According to Short, the nursing staff met and reviewed information regarding the H1N1 virus with the district’s faculty. She said the Clearfield Hospital provided them with educational materials.
Short said they watched a video with the faculty and offered proper etiquette for washing hands and coughing. She said the faculty and their students should cough into their elbow.
On the first day of school, she said a letter was sent home to parents. She said they’re stressing students stay home if they’re sick. She said they should not return to school until they’ve been without a fever for 24 hours.
Short recommended that parents have their children vaccinated for the seasonal flu. She also said they shouldn’t wait until a district-offered clinic for the H1N1 vaccine.
“They should get it as soon as possible,” she said.
