Chester County Health Department to Host H1N1 Vaccine Clinics at Goverment Services Center
The Chester County Health Department is scheduling small vaccination clinics to administer the H1N1 vaccine during the week of December 16. Clinics are also being scheduled for January 2010. Call 610-344-5353, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. to schedule an appointment. Anyone over the age of 3 years is eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine. All clinics will be held at the Government Services Center, 601 Westtown Road, West Chester. Click here for links to consent forms and directions.
Chester County Health Department Seasonal Flu Shot Clinic Scheduled Dec. 9 @ AGHS
The Seasonal Flu Vaccine will be provided by the Chester County Health Department on Wednesday, Dec. 9 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Avon Grove High School Cafeteria. Student permission slips can be picked up prior to that date in the school nurses’ office at each AGSD building. The cost is $20 for adults and free for children.
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Avon Grove School District continues to work closely with local and state public health officials to monitor information and recommendations regarding the novel Influenza A (H1N1) virus and seasonal influenza.
The District has taken a three-pronged approach to maintaining a healthy school community and minimizing the spread of illness-causing germs, including regular, seasonal flus and the novel Influenza A virus.
This approach includes education, prevention, and preparedness.
Education: Our school nurses and other staff are proactive in teaching students good hygiene practices, such as proper hand washing and cough and sneeze etiquette. Our education efforts include increasing awareness of how germs spread and reminding students there are simple steps they must follow to stay healthy.
Health officials say the best way to beat germs is to wash your hands. Students must wash their hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom and/or sneezing/coughing. Students should avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth to keep germs from getting into their bodies. If you use a tissue, throw it out. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into the corner of your elbow -- not in your hands.
Prevention: Schools regularly clean and disinfect common areas such as bathrooms and the school cafeteria. Germs can still spread, however, from contaminated surfaces in schools, homes, and public places. That's why cough/sneeze etiquette, frequent hand washing, and not touching the eyes/nose/mouth are so important.
If soap and water are not readily available, students can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizers are located in the common areas of each school. Signs are posted reminding students that "One pump is enough!"
Parents and guardians are reminded of the importance of keeping sick children home to allow them sufficient time to recover and to prevent the spread of illnesses. Please follow the student handbook for guidelines and procedures for students returning to school after an illness. Students should stay home from school and avoid other people until they are fever-free, without medication, for a minimum of 24 hours and illness symptoms are dramatically improved.
Flu-like symptoms are defined as having a fever greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or being feverish along with body aches, a cough, and/or sore throat. If a child is absent due to illness, parents are asked to list the child's specific symptoms (i.e. fever, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, etc.) on the absence note to be sent in when the student returns to school.
If a doctor suspects or confirms a student has Influenza A, the child’s parents should report the case to the school nurse. Please note that physicians and/or health officials may not test for Influenza A or the specific subtype of Influenza A. There are three subtypes of Influenza A (H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2) that can affect people.
As a preventive measure, health officials recommend getting vaccinated against the H1N1 virus in addition to getting the regular flu vaccine. For more information on the H1N1 vaccine, see the National Association of School Nurses Website for answers to frequently asked questions by students, families and school personnel.
Preparedness: School districts have developed pandemic flu response plans in response to federal and state requirements and health officials' concerns that an avian (bird) flu pandemic would likely occur in the near term. Although the avian flu did not spread as predicted, the novel H1N1 Influenza A virus emerged in humans in the spring of 2009 and world health officials declared an H1N1 pandemic in June 2009.
A districtwide committee developed Avon Grove's Pandemic Flu Response Plan, which was finalized in the 2008-2009 school year. Avon Grove's plan includes procedures for delivering education services to children who are home sick and outlines criteria for students’ readmission to school. A hardcopy of the plan is located in each district school and the administration office.
As part of Avon Grove's pandemic flu response procedures, our school nurses are monitoring visits to the nurses' offices and are reviewing student absence notes to identify patterns of flu-like illnesses among the student population. School nurses provide weekly reports to the Chester County Health Department which include the total number of student absences and the number of students treated by the school nurse for flu-like symptoms.
In August 2009, health officials issued updated guidelines regarding school closures. Health officials now recommend the least disruptive approach and have indicated that school closures do not stop the spread of the flu virus in communities. Avon Grove School District officials continue to work closely with school nurses, the school physician, and local health officials for guidance concerning medical advice and prevention, containment, and treatment measures. The superintendent of schools is responsible for making the final determination with regard to school closures.
Additional H1N1 Resources:
Avon Grove School District Quick-Reference H1N1 Flier
Pennsylvania Department of Health Guidance for School (K-12) Response to Influenza During the 2009-2010 School Year
PA Department of Health's New H1N1 Site
Cold Versus Flu Symptoms
U.S. Centers for Disease Control
World Health Organization
Planning & Preparedness
Philadelphia Inquirer article "The truth about swine flu: Separating fact and rumor"
National Association of School Nurses: Novel H1N1 & Seasonal Flu
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 11:58 AM
