Published: November 13, 2009 08:27 pm      

900 local students receive swine flu vaccine

Somerset — More than 900 elementary school students received vaccinations to prevent the H1N1 virus yesterday at a mass clinic held by the Lake Cumberland District Health Department at the Hal Rogers Fire Training Center.

Students from all over the Pulaski County school district came by bus to the North Ky. 1247 facility to receive the vaccination either by a nasal mist or a shot. All students who received the vaccine had permission from their guardians, who were notified of the clinic through a letter which was sent home from each of the elementary schools.

The clinic was expected to last past noon, but the process went so smoothly that the children were finished by 11:30 a.m.

“There was a 7-10 minute wait (for the children) from the time they came in the door until they got their vaccine,” said Patricia Burton, public information officer for the Lake Cumberland District Health Department.

Burton said most of the children received their vaccinations well, in spite of the fact that many came without their parents.

“The kids did well because they were around their peers,” she said.

Each table in the facility was staffed by two nurses and a helper — and school staff and even some principals and family resource center workers were available to direct the youngsters and comfort them if they were uneasy about receiving the shot or mist.

“They were patting them on their heads, and some were even letting the kids sit in their lap while they got the vaccine,” Burton said.

Burton also said the nurses took their time with each child and explained what was going to happen when they got their vaccinations.

Burton and fellow public information officer Natalie True said the clinic was offered in an effort to get a large number of children vaccinated in a short amount of time.

“We were able to get this done in a few hours instead of all these families having to make appointments elsewhere,” True said.

Burton said the local school systems expressed interest in offering the vaccination to students as soon as the H1N1 virus began spreading.

The Science Hill Independent School District also hosted an on-site flu shot clinic yesterday.

An on-site clinic will be held at Hopkins Elementary School on Monday, Nov. 16.

The Memorial Education Center and other area preschools will be holding on-site clinics on Nov. 17.

Vaccinations for children between the ages of 6 and 36 months will be available at the LCDHD on Nov. 19. Contact the health department for an appointment.

Local middle and high schools will have on-site clinics on Nov. 20.

Those who can’t attend the on-site clinics can contact their local pharmacy, doctor’s office, or the local health department to check on the availability of the vaccines at those locations.

For more information about the H1N1 virus, visit: www.lcdhd.org.