Schools School Notices School Announcement: H1N1 Important Information
School Announcement: H1N1 Important Information
WESTBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Message sent - 10/29/2009
H1N1 Important Information
This is a much longer email than what we usually send to parents. However, we want to give you the most up to date and important information about the H1N1 flu. There are three major information sections included: 1) about the safety of the H1N1 vaccine; 2) about vaccinating Westborough students; 3) that provides a parent fact sheet.
SAFETY OF VACCINE (Center for Disease Control www. cdc.gov)
First, thank you to the nearly 1000 parents who responded to the recent survey. The number one question that parents asked was about the safety of the vaccine.
Will the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines be safe?
We expect the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine to have a similar safety profile as seasonal flu vaccines, which have a very good safety track record. Over the years, hundreds of millions of Americans have received seasonal flu vaccines. The most common side effects following flu vaccinations are mild, such as soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot was given. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be closely monitoring for any signs that the vaccine is causing unexpected adverse events and we will work with state and local health officials to investigate any unusual events.
Are there any side effects to the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine?
CDC expects that any side effects following vaccination with the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine would be rare. If side effects occur, they will likely be similar to those experienced following seasonal influenza vaccine. Mild problems that may be experienced include soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, fainting (mainly adolescents), headache, muscle aches, fever, and nausea. If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days. Life-threatening allergic reactions to vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot is given.
After vaccination you should look for any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, swelling around the eyes or lips, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness. If any unusual condition occurs following vaccination, seek medical attention right away. Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given. Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to report the reaction by filing a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form. Or you can file this report yourself through the VAERS Web site at www.vaers.hhs.gov. You may call 1-800-822-7967 to receive a copy of the VAERS form. VAERS is not able to provide medical advice.
A complete list of possible side effects from both the flu shot and the nasal spray (LAIV or Flu Mist) vaccines are below:
The flu shot: The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur are:
• Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
• Fever (low grade)
• Aches
• Nausea
If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot and usually last 1 to 2 days. Almost all people who receive influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it. However, on rare occasions, flu vaccination can cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. A federal program has been created to help pay for the medical care and other specific expenses of certain persons who have a serious reaction to this vaccine. For more information about this program, call 1-888-275-4772 or visit the program’s website at: http://www.hrsa.gov/countermeasurescomp/default.htm.
The nasal spray (also called LAIV): The viruses in the nasal-spray vaccine are weakened and do not cause severe symptoms often associated with influenza illness. (In clinical studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close contacts has occurred only rarely.)
In children, side effects from LAIV can include:
• runny nose
• wheezing
• headache
• vomiting
• muscle aches
• fever
In adults, side effects from LAIV can include
• runny nose
• headache
• sore throat
• cough
Are there some people who should not receive this vaccine?
People who have a severe (life-threatening) allergy to chicken eggs or to any other substance in the vaccine should not be vaccinated
PLANS FOR WESTBOROUGH VACCINATIONS
The vaccine will be available at clinics offered by the Westborough Board of Health in the schools after-school hours and on weekends. No dates and times for vaccination clinics have been set because we have not received any of the H1N1 flu vaccine or the nasal spray. The Massachusetts Board of Health has reported that doses will be received in batches of about 100 vaccines at a time.
The first vaccination clinics will be available for WHS students who are seniors. When the first batch of vaccines is received, parents of seniors will be notified with a Connect Ed email that will include information about on line access to permission slips. Permission slips will also be available in the high school office. The first eighty students who turn in their completed forms will receive the first doses of the vaccines. As more doses, become available, we will hold additional clinics and will be vaccinating high school students.
As more vaccines become available, we will send targeted ConnectEd emails to groups of parents in different schools and grade levels. Students, who are younger than 10, will need to have two vaccinations. They will be spaced about a month apart.
H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Information for Parents (from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
At this time, state and local public health officials have advised that students can---and should-- continue to come to school, as long as they are not sick and do not have flu symptoms. Flu-like symptoms include: fever (over 100 degrees F), feverishness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, or stuffy nose. Additional symptoms may be experienced with swine flu, including body aches, feeling very tired, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea.
The Department of Public Health has a fact sheet on H1N1 that is available on the DPH website, www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu in English and many other languages.
What should I do if my child is sick?
Flu spreads easily. If you think your child is getting the flu:
• It is very important that he/she does not go to school or other places where they might make other people sick, such as group childcare, after school programs, the mall, or sporting events.
• Call your doctor’s office and let him/her know your child’s symptoms and history. Your doctor will advise you whether you should come to the office. It is best to call ahead because several doctors’ offices have provisions in place to respond to possible H1N1 (swine) flu cases.
• When you call to the school to notify them that your child is sick, please tell the school nurse if he/she has flu-like symptoms.
• Keep your school nurse updated on your child’s medical condition.
If your doctor advises you to care for your child at home, the Centers for Disease Control has a guide on taking care of a sick person at home. It can be found at, http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance_homecare.htm.
Some tips from that guide include:
• Establish a rule in your house that everyone covers their coughs, and cleans their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after coughing and/or sneezing.
• Keep the sick person in a room separate from the common areas of the house. (For example, a spare bedroom with its own bathroom, if that’s possible.) Keep the sickroom door closed.
• Keep your child at home unless necessary for medical care and don’t have playmates or other guests over during this time. Your child may be able to pass the virus for 7 days or longer, so check with your doctor on recommendations for when he/she can return to school
• Try to protect other people in the home. For example, if possible, have only one adult in the home take care of the sick person (not a pregnant woman). Clean surfaces regularly with a disinfectant and maintain good ventilation. Remember to wash you hands.
• Monitor yourself and household members, including the elderly, for flu symptoms and contact a health care provider if symptoms occur.
• Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by the sick person in the trash. Wash your hands after touching used tissues and similar waste.
• Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but importantly these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.
What can I do to keep my child from getting sick?
It is also important to teach your children how to reduce their risk of getting the flu and how to protect others from becoming infected.
Teach your children to wash their hands often. Washing with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds is ideal (that is about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice).
Teach your children the proper use of hand sanitizer. Gels, rubs, and hand wipes all work well, as long as they contain at least 60% alcohol. Hand wipes must be disposed of properly. (Monitor small children using gels as they may ingest it.)
Teach your children to cough or sneeze into your sleeve—not their hands! Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of their elbow. They should wash their hands after blowing their nose or coughing into a tissue.
Teach your children to avoid touching their nose, mouth or eyes. They should keep their hands away from their face.
If we all practice good hygiene, health officials believe we can limit the spread of swine flu in our schools and child care centers.
Will my child’s school be closed if there is a case of swine flu?
School leaders and state and local health officials are closely monitoring the situation and will inform parents as soon as possible if your child’s school must be closed. However, it is important to plan ahead. Have a family discussion now to decide who would care for your child if his/her school were closed.
If school is closed, it is important that students not gather together at another location, but rather stay home to avoid exposing other people.
How can I keep track of what is going on in my community?
Stay informed by getting up-to-date information on swine flu and what you can do to keep your family healthy from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu, the Centers for Disease Control website, www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ or the 24 hour toll-free hotline that Massachusetts residents can call for general information about swine flu. To reach the hotline, dial 211.
What precautions are being taken at schools?
Precautions being taken in our schools:
• Careful hand washing is very important in preventing the spread of disease, including Swine Flu. School Nurses have been and will continue to conduct “hand washing/cover your cough” education programs district wide. They will continue to remind students and staff of their importance.
• All school nurses, food services staff, principals and school faculty staff are working to prevent Swine Flu through proactive steps, communication, and universal precautions.
• The electronic documentation system used by school nurses can be utilized for disease surveillance by tracking trends by symptoms, so that potential public health issues can be identified quickly.
• School nurses are working closely with local and state public health authorities as questions arise.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our children and our schools healthy.
This e-mail has been sent to you by WESTBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you wish to discontinue this service, please inform WESTBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at (508) 836-7700.
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