Monday, October 19, 2009

Education Week: Schools Taking Part in Campaign to Give Swine-Flu Vaccine




Education Week: Schools Taking Part in Campaign to Give Swine-Flu Vaccine:

"Thousands of American schools are mobilizing to ensure that students are vaccinated against swine flu in the coming weeks, a task complicated by parental fears and overlap with vaccine programs for seasonal flu.

Public-health officials say the swine-flu season is in full swing, and in fact has never stopped since the new virus, known as H1N1, was identified in April. Children have been among the groups hardest hit. A total of 76 children in the United States have died from swine flu, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week. Thirty-seven states are reporting widespread swine flu, the Atlanta-based CDC said.

As the first doses of the vaccine are distributed this month, health and school officials are focusing on helping to get children inoculated. People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years are among the “priority groups” recommended to receive the swine-flu vaccine. And health officials say they should also be vaccinated against regular, seasonal flu, which typically is more..."