School-based H1N1 clinics to start Monday

PROVIDENCE—Rhode Island health officials will begin school-based H1N1 flu clinics on Monday.

The first clinics will be at elementary schools in Barrington, Johnston, Providence, Lincoln and Smithfield.

As of Friday, about 87,000 doses of the injectable vaccine have been allocated to Rhode Island. The amount is enough to complete at least the first two weeks of the clinics, health officials said.

Health officials said that in order to receive a vaccination at a school-based clinic, parents must sign and return a consent form to the child’s school. The Health Department cannot vaccinate a child without the consent form.

“We have for a number of weeks now been planning these clinics. We have volunteers who have been working with the schools and with the community,“ state education commissioner Deborah Gist said.

Health officials said if your child has a slight fever (under 100.4 degrees) and no real signs of the flu, it’s OK to be vaccinated. However, they said you should check with your doctor first.

Receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine at the school-based clinics is voluntary.

“School-based clinics are the most efficient and effective way to assure that all Rhode Island school-aged children are offered the H1N1 vaccine in the shortest amount of time,“ said Dr. David Gifford, state health director. “If parents decline to have their children vaccinated in school, they should be aware that pediatricians will not have the H1N1 vaccine for school-aged children until late December or early next year.“

Some schools have adjusted the time or location of their clinics. Parents are urged to confirm time and locations on the final schedule. To search the clinic schedule by town or date, click here.