Article published November 04, 2009
Region planning several H1N1 vaccination clinics
By JULIE M. McKINNON
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Sylvania City Schools is opting not to hold H1N1 vaccination clinics during the day, and Toledo Public Schools still is working out plans for a combination of times with the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.
Clinics have not been scheduled for either district as priority is being given to those that allow the health department to administer immunizations during the day, such as Oregon and Maumee city schools, said Dr. David Grossman, Toledo-Lucas County health commissioner.
"We really want to do the schools during the day that we can," said Larry Vasko, deputy health commissioner.
As the flu season continues, the health department received 20,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine yesterday, which is equivalent to other shipments so far combined, Mr. Vasko said. Some of those vaccine doses are thimerosal-free, and the health department will hold its first large-scale effort to immunize pregnant women against the swine flu Sunday, he said.
"We got a lot of vaccine," Mr. Vasko said. "We will not at all run out this time."
The clinic for pregnant women, as well as children and others in high-risk groups, is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at St. Luke's Hospital in Maumee.The Wood County Health Department also is holding a H1N1 vaccination clinic for pregnant women only from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Huntington Bank Building at Bowling Green State University.
Wood County scheduled another clinic this week, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Huntington Bank Building at BGSU, for any individuals at high risk for getting H1N1. It also will hold two previously scheduled clinics this week, from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Perrysburg High School cafeteria and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at North Baltimore Main School, 124 South Second St.
Elsewhere in the area, the Sandusky County Health Department is holding an H1N1 vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Clyde High School. The Fulton County Health Department is holding clinics at its office from
9 a.m. to noon today and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow, and appointments must be made by calling 419-337-0915.
In Lucas County, Sylvania City Schools decided not to have vaccination clinics during school so parents could comfort their children and there would be no disruptions to class time, Nancy Crandall, district spokesman, said.
Plus, some schools don't have both gyms and cafeterias, meaning students would have to eat lunch at their desks, she said.
"Parents want to be there with their kids, and this takes out any room for error or problems," Ms. Crandall said.
Last week, a 7-year-old student at Starr Elementary in Oregon was given an H1N1 vaccination shot despite not having parental consent. The health department then revised consent forms so only parents who want their children to get vaccinated will sign and return them.
TPS and health department officials are finalizing plans for clinics. The district wants to hold clinics both during the day and before school, giving parents the option of being with their children, said Patty Mazur, TPS spokesman.
H1N1 clinics for students are being held today in Maumee and at Clay High School. About 4,000 doses likely will be used during those clinics, and another vaccine shipment will arrive Tuesday, Mr. Vasko said.
Students in Washington Local Schools will be able to get H1N1 vaccinations on Nov. 12 and 13. An H1N1 vaccination clinic is expected to be held in partnership with Lucas County Children Services on Nov. 14, and a drive-through clinic is being planned at the University of Toledo on Nov. 15, Mr. Vasko said.
Contact Julie M. McKinnon at:
jmckinnon@theblade.com
or 419-724-6087.
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