Schenectady County to hold vaccination clinic in Duanesburg

Nov. 16, 2009—The Duanesburg Central School District has taken a number of steps to prepare for this year's flu season. As expected, the district has already had students absent with apparent "influenz-like illness," a phrase that describes a person who shows symptoms of having any type of flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that people aged 6 months through 24 years be vaccinated against the virus.

Schenectady County Public Health Services (SCPHS) will be offering H1N1 vaccines for free to students currently enrolled in the Duanesburg Central School District on Tuesday, Nov. 24, throughout the school day at Duanesburg Elementary School as long as students' parents provide their consent in advance.

A letter about this was mailed home to parents of all students districtwide on Nov. 15 (PDF). Please carefully read through all of the information enclosed from SCPHS. The consent form must be printed double-sided.

Homeschooled or special education students who are placed out of district are also welcome to attend the clinic, but must return a completed consent form in advance to Melissa Roennpagel at the elementary school as well as provide their own transportation. Letters to parents are being mailed home today (Nov. 16).

Middle/high school students with parental consent will be bused to the elementary school from 11:15 - 2:15 p.m. to get the vaccine. The county is working with the district to arrange an additional date for ninth-graders who have parental consent, but will be on a field trip that day.

As a parent, it your decision whether or not to allow your child to receive the H1N1 vaccine. In making your decision, please note that:

The information from SCPHS describes the vaccine and the vaccination process.

Students who are nine years of age or younger need two doses of the vaccine, space about a month apart. SCPHS will return to Duanesburg to provide the second dose. Older students only need one dose.

Parents who want their child to receive the H1N1 vaccine must complete the parent/guardian consent form and return it to their child's teacher by Nov. 20.

On the consent form, questions 1-14 should be answered from the perspective of your child. Your answers to some questions may be "no" because the questions do not apply to children.

You do not need a witness to your signature. SCPHS will complete the "witness" section.

If you have any questions about the vaccine or the upcoming clinic, please call SPCHS at 518-386-2824 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For additional information, please visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu or speak to your pediatrician or family health care provider.