Pinellas targets swine flu

Schools in Pinellas County started swine flu vaccinations Monday, Hillsborough schools continues its vaccination program and health care workers can get free vaccinations later this week.

As more swine flu vaccine becomes available in the Tampa Bay area, in its nasal mist and injectable form, health departments are scheduling clinics or making it available to health care providers.

Few areas nationwide have enough of the vaccine yet to make it widely available to the general population. Clinics so far are limited to those most susceptible to the disease, including children, and those at greatest risk of complications should they catch it.

The program started Monday in Pinellas schools with clinics at 16 campuses.

The district's complete schedule runs through Nov. 20. Shots are being offered during school hours.

Consent forms and other information are available at the district's swine flu Web page. If parents will not be present for the vaccine, students can only receive it by filling out the consent form before the date of the clinic.

In Hillsborough, four high schools and one elementary school will open after school this week for free swine flu vaccinations.

The schools are Plant City, Riverview, Sickles and Tampa Bay Technical high schools and Sulphur Springs Elementary.

The complete list of Hillsborough school clinics that have been scheduled can be found at the district's swine flu Web page.

Students must have a signed permission slip and elementary school students must have a parent or guardian present. They are welcome to visit the most convenient site. Those participating in home-schooling, virtual and charter school programs also are eligible to receive the vaccine at these sites.

No vaccine will be administered in Hillsborough during the week of Thanksgiving.

In addition, local doctors and their staffs can receive free swine flu vaccine from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Hillsborough County Medical Association, 606 S. Boulevard in Tampa.

Healthcare and medical services professionals are among the groups encouraged to get swine flu vaccinations as soon as they are available to protect themselves and their patients from getting swine flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Protection has said.

"It is especially important that we receive the vaccine to protect ourselves and our patients," said Humberto Coto, president of the Hillsborough medical association.

Coto also encouraged doctors to partner with the Hillsborough County Health Department to become vaccine providers by visiting www .flshots.com.