TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Flu vaccine offered at more schools

ADVERTISEMENT

By SHERRI ACKERMAN

sackerman@tampatrib.com

Published: October 27, 2009

TAMPA - A fraction signed up for it and even fewer made it through the process Monday as Hillsborough County schools extended its vaccination program to students at select high schools and middle schools.

"I think people are kind of taking a wait-and-see approach," said Chris Farkas, principal at Freedom High in New Tampa, where about 500 of the school's 2,198 students turned in permission slips for the H1N1 vaccine. "The information is coming out so quickly."

The Hillsborough County Health Department reported giving 2,026 vaccinations at public schools Monday, said school district spokesman Steve Hegarty. Most went to students.

A survey conducted by the district last week showed that 55 percent of the 25,551 parents responding said they planned to have their children vaccinated at the schools.

It's still too early to tell if those expectations will be met, officials said.

"I was pleased," Hegarty said. "We got a couple thousand done when most counties are just starting to make plans to do it."

Schools were still receiving permission slips this week, he said. Nurses hired by the health department will return to schools today to administer more of the vaccine.

The health department began its free swine flu campaign in public schools last week at the district's exceptional centers. It moved to nine middle and high schools this week and will move to designated after-school sites for elementary school students next week.

Parents are being notified through permission slips and automated telephone messages. The district keeps an updated schedule at www.sdhc.k12.fl.us.

Sisters Nicole and Taylor Seybold were among the 195 Freedom students to get their swine flu shots Monday.

"I was kind of nervous," admitted Nicole, 15.

"It didn't hurt," added Taylor, 16.

Their parents signed up the girls for shots and not the nasal mist option because the mist contains the live H1N1 virus, Nicole said.

"My mom thought it might make us sick," Taylor said.

That seems to be a concern among many parents, said registered nurse Karen Yancy, who administered Taylor's vaccine. Yancy was surprised by how many parents had opted to bypass the spray.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said neither form of the vaccine causes illness.

At Eisenhower Middle School in Gibsonton, 800 of the more than 1,400 students are onboard for vaccinations, said Principal Dena Collins. Health officials reported giving 350 vaccinations at the school Monday.

Nicole and Taylor said a lot of their friends at Freedom had colds and a few were home with swine flu.

"I'm washing my hands all the time," Nicole said. "I don't want to get the swine flu."

Reporter Sherri Ackerman can be reached (813) 259-7144.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT