The Knox County Health Department (KCHD) kicked off their 2008 School FluMist Vaccination Program with Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale; Lori Patterson, Director of Infectious Disease at East Tennessee Health Department; and Martha Buchanan, KCHD Public Health Officer this week at the Pride and Joy Children’s Academy.
Children are known to be the major transmitter of flu to other people, including those considered to be high risk for complications of flu. Over the past three years KCHD, working with school health nurses and contract staff, have administered a total of 31,160 flu vaccines, approximately 45% coverage for school aged children.
“Children learn best when they’re in school,” said Ragsdale, “It is our hope that by vaccinating these kids we can keep them from missing school days and keep their parents from missing work days.” Dr. Buchanan agreed saying, “It is possible to spread the flu to others before you even know you have it. As children are very generous with their germs, we want to make sure that they don’t spread those germs to family members and other members of the community.”
KCHD has been offering FluMist vaccines to public and private schools throughout Knox County since 2004. This year, the influence prevention program is expanding to include Head Start Students and daycare centers with more than 50 children. Facilities with fewer than 50 children are asked to direct parents to any Health Department location. Any child between the age of 2 and 19 are eligible for the free vaccine.
Lori Patterson said, “We are asking parents to sign the consent forms and get their children vaccinated. It’s easy, it’s painless and it’s free. Influenza is not just a bug, it’s a very dangerous disease. We are working hard to protect this community and are asking you to help us.”
Clinics are scheduled in schools, daycares, and Head Start facilities from September 22 through October 17. A second round of FluMist clinics will be held between December 2 and 22 to provide a second dose of vaccines required for children under nine years of age who have never received a flu vaccine of any kind.
