CLEARFIELD – On Thursday representatives from Clearfield Hospital and the Clearfield Area School District gathered to discuss a collaborative effort to combat the H1N1 virus in Clearfield area schools.
The CASD announced earlier this week that a clinic for students in the CASD, St. Francis School and Christian Missionary Alliance School will be held on Saturday at the Clearfield Area Middle School.
Rebecca Short, head nurse for the CASD, said that the school district had been looking at putting a vaccination clinic together for students but a few administrative hurdles kept it from coming together.
“This all came together about a week ago,” said Rebecca Short, head nurse in the CASD. “We are very fortunate that Clearfield Hospital is so community minded.”
Short said the hospital helped the district obtain the vaccines by writing them into their own plan.
Dr. Gregory Sheffo, chief medical officer for Clearfield Hospital indicated that H1N1 is the strain of influenza that doctors and hospitals are dealing with now. He said it is expected that the more “typical” influenza will hit around the holidays.
He explained that symptoms for H1N1 differ from the common flu virus in that it affects a person’s respiratory functions faster and causes fever faster. He pointed out that certain groups of people can be more susceptible to the virus, including asthmatics, diabetics, pregnant women and young children.
“The majority of healthy people will handle this fine,” said Sheffo. He added, however, that symptoms a healthy person might show are sudden shortness of breath, gasping and grunting.
He noted that in healthy children, the symptoms are similar. He said that some children who get sick then appear to be doing better, but then the symptoms (respiratory problems/fever) come on.
“We’re looking forward to participating in that (clinic),” said Sheffo.
“One of the things we’re very glad to see is the working relationship between the school district and hospital and other agencies to provide this to children in the community,” said Jerry Pollock, deputy director of the Clearfield County Emergency Management Agency.
“I can’t stress the importance of this collaboration,” said Sue Stiner, infection prevention manager at Clearfield Hospital. “The sooner we get this to the community, the less visits for children to the emergency room.”
According to Stiner 40 confirmed cases of H1N1 have come through the hospital, with four of those people being admitted.
“It has been manageable,” said Sheffo.
Short said that in the school setting, teachers and staff are taking steps to stave off H1N1. She said that they are asking parents to keep sick students home, and to not bring children in until 24 hours after their fever subsides.
Short also said that upward of 100 volunteers will be on hand Saturday.
“We anticipate this will have a large turnout,” said Short.
While this clinic will only be for students in the CASD, Christian Missionary Alliance and St. Francis Schools, officials said there is the possibility that clinics will be held for other school districts depending on the availability of the vaccine.
The voluntary clinic will run 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Suggested appointment times by last name:
9:00 a.m. A-D
10:00 a.m. E-K
11:00 a.m. L-P
12:00 p.m. Q-T
1:00 p.m. U-Z
Students under 10 years of age require two vaccines. A second clinic will be scheduled in early December for these students.
All students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.