PORTAGE — Columbia County Health and Human Services is planning to hold H1N1 vaccination clinics for children in grades kindergarten through 12 during the school day at schools throughout the county.
Public school districts participating are Cambria, Columbus, Fall River, Lodi, Pardeeville, Portage, Poynette, Randolph, Rio and Wisconsin Dells. In addition, there will be school-based clinics in the following parochial schools: Columbus Peterson Elementary, Columbus St. Jerome’s, Columbus Wisconsin Academy, Columbus Zion Lutheran, Portage St. John’s, Portage St. Mary’s, Randolph Christian, and Pardeeville St. John’s,
Parents will be contacted and sent information about the vaccine, the disease, and the vaccination clinic. They will be asked to either provide or decline consent for this vaccine.
There will be no cost for children to receive the H1N1 vaccine.
Vaccinating children at school can help meet the demand for convenient, timely vaccination of school-aged children while decreasing the burden on local health care providers who may be busy treating those infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus and/or seasonal influenza.
Younger persons are at increased risk of infection.
Based on these data, the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that initial doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine be prioritized for:
-- Children and young adults 6 months through 24 years of age
-- Pregnant women
-- People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
--Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, and
-- People 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for complications of 2009 H1N1 infections because of certain health conditions including chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus); and immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV.
For questions or additional information,visit www.co.columbia.wi us or contact us at 608-742-9227. Call the Columbia County Health and Human Services Flu Vaccination Hotline at 608-742-9735 for up to date information regarding seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccine clinics being offered at Columbia County Health and Human Services.