Little Rock, AR – To keep its students healthy and in the classroom, the Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) is partnering with the Arkansas Department of Health to offer free flu immunizations on October 27 to students and their families.
Dr. Brenda Bowles, PCSSD’s assistant superintendent for equity and pupil services, said the flu “clinics” will take place in six of the district’s 37 schools.
“The clinics will be held at Fuller Middle School and Joe T. Robinson High School in Little Rock, Maumelle Middle School, Harris Elementary School in North Little Rock, Clinton Elementary School in Sherwood and Jacksonville Elementary School,” Bowles said.
Bowles said the seasonal flu shot will be administered, and if the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine is available, it too, will be offered that day. Teachers and staff in each school and in the district office will be vaccinated separately on October 15 by school nurses.
Student vaccinations will be administered by nurses from the health department and the district’s school nurses. “This has been a collaborative effort through the planning stages and we’ll work together on the day of the clinic,” said Bowles. “Having the school nurses, who the students are familiar with, involved will hopefully make younger students, especially, more comfortable with the vaccine.”
The clinics will be held from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at each location. “We’re encouraging parents or guardians to come in to sign their children out of class and then take them for the vaccination,” Bowles said. “They may also sign them out of another school and take them to the school hosting the clinic.
“Parents with a student attending a school where the clinic is taking place may sign a consent form in advance and their child will be vaccinated, she added.
Bowles said students’ family members are also eligible for the free vaccines. “We’re encouraging both parents and siblings to come in so the entire family can remain healthy throughout the flu season,” she said. “The health department is asking them to bring in a copy of their insurance or Medicaid card so they can bill if possible. However, there will be no cost to those receiving the vaccination.”
According to Bowles, there has been an uptick in the number of students in the district reporting flu-like symptoms, which include a fever over 100 degrees, sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, headache, fatigue and body aches. “Typically we don’t see the flu until the winter months. That’s not the case now. Based on observations, and reports from parents and the medical community, we’re already seeing the flu,” she said.
PCSSD officials have begun tracking reports of flu symptoms, and there have been almost 100 cases reported this school year so far. The health department will have enough seasonal flu vaccines to vaccinate every child in the district, Bowles said.
Bowles said in addition to coordinating the clinics, the district sent a letter to parents last month detailing how to keep students healthy. “It included tips on teaching your children to wash their hands and not to share personal items and encouraged parents to keep sick children at home,” she said.
Rob McGill, the district’s superintendent, said a protocol is in place when a student shows flu-like symptoms. “If we send children home with any of the symptoms outlined on that protocol they must be fever free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication before they can return to school. If a child or staff member is diagnosed with the flu, he or she may be required to stay home a minimum of seven days,” McGill said.
“We’re doing everything possible to keep our students healthy so they can be at school and learning. The flu clinics are one way to meet that challenge head on,” he said.
For more information about the flu clinics, please call PCSSD at 501- 490-2000.
