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Is it middle schoolers who are most at risk?

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TBO.com

Published: November 10, 2009

Q. Polk County School District is giving the vaccine starting with the middle schools. I was told that they are the "most" at risk but everything I'm reading would point more to the elementary school age children. Do you have anything that supports the middle school age children being more at risk?

- Kim, Winter Haven

A. There is no known research saying "tweens" and teens are more susceptible to the swine flu. However, many local school districts are choosing to require parents to be present at vaccinations involving elementary school age children.

That's not necessarily the case at middle and senior high schools, where shots and sprays are being given during the school day. Logistically, this may make it easier to administer at the schools for older children.

Do you have a question or comment about swine flu that isn't being addressed?

Helping us track it all down is the Hillsborough County Health Department, which, like us, draws much of its information from the very helpful Web sites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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