Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 11, 1 November 2012 — Voluntary flu vaccinations at schools [ARTICLE]

Voluntary flu vaccinations at schools

The state Department of Heahh

will be administering free flu vaccinations to Hawai'i students in kindergarten through eighth grade at more than 300 public, private and charter schools statewide. Vaccinations through the Stop Flu at School program is voluntary for schools and students. The Heahh Department said it expects to vaccinate more than 60,000 students between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, the duration of the campaign. "By vaccinating schoolchildren, we not only protect our keiki, but their families and communities as well," the state epidemiologist, Dr. Sarah Park, said in a statement. "An annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone six months

and older. Children not vaccinated at their school should go to their doctor to receive the flu vaccine. Adults should be vaccinated at their doctor's office or a phannacy." The Heahh Department said: "Vaccinating eaeh child born in the United States in a given year following the current childhood immunization schedule could prevent approximately 42,000 deaths and 20 million cases of disease." For information, visit stopfluatschool.com or eall the Aloha United Way infonnation and referral line 2-1-1. A list of flu-vac-cination clinics statewide is available at hawaii.gov/health/flu-hawaii-gov/ Documents/flushotschedule.pdf or by calling 211. ■

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