Tulsa World: Flu vaccines coming for 4 area schools

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Flu vaccines coming for 4 area schools

Arianna Pruitt, 8, receives a swine flu vaccination through her right nostril at Oak Crest Elementary School in Broken Arrow on Wednesday. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World

By ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer
Published: 10/29/2009 2:32 AM
Last Modified: 10/29/2009 4:58 AM

For more on swine flu.

H1N1 flu vaccine will be available to students and employees at three Tulsa schools and one Glenpool school next week, officials announced Wednesday.

Another 15 TPS schools are set to offer the vaccines in the near future.

"There were several criteria we looked at in selecting which schools would receive vaccines. That included kids with multiple disabilities because those (schools) would be environments where we have more medical needs, which is a high-risk category, and where we had previous incidents, such as the death," said Pam Butler, director of health services for TPS.

Vaccination dates set for next week are as follows:

9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, at Cooper Elementary School 1808 S. 123rd East Ave.

9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, at East Central High School, 12150 E. 11th St.

9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Jackson Elementary School, 2137 N. Pittsburg Ave.

Thursday, Glenpool Elementary School, 461 W. 146th Place. An exact time wasn't immediately known.

Vaccinations will only be made available to enrolled students and employees at the selected sites.

"We've had calls from parents about whether they could bring other children from the home, but only enrolled students and employees of that site are eligible. The Health Department said that is consistent with what has been done

in schools in other counties," Butler said.

Other Tulsa school sites selected by the Health Department for future vaccination dates are: Academy Central, Bell, Newcomer International, Patrick Henry, Skelly and Wright elementary schools, Cleveland, Hamilton and Whitney middle schools, Edison Preparatory School, KIPP Tulsa College Preparatory, and Central, McLain, Memorial and Rogers high schools.

Butler said she also has requested a shipment of H1N1 vaccine from the state of Oklahoma because registered nurses who work in the schools could administer them. If TPS receives a shipment, more school sites could have access to the vaccine.

Melanie Christian, spokeswoman for the Tulsa City-County Health Department, said the agency received only 3,100 doses of vaccine this week. She said they don't know how many doses they will get next week.

"We have a lot more nasal spray than we do the injectable," she said. "If we get what we expect to get next week, it should be the injectable vaccine."

Students ages 9 or younger will require a second vaccination dose 28 days after the first dose. The health department does not plan on providing the second dose at the school site, so parents would be responsible for acquiring the second dose for their child, either at the Health Department or at another site.

Tulsa Public Schools officials said two consent forms are required for students and employees to receive the vaccination. They will be sent home with students prior to each vaccination date and they are available for downloading online at tulsaworld.com/tps.

Broken Arrow's Oak Crest Elementary School gave H1N1 vaccinations Wednesday, but no more are planned for the week. Union has no plans for clinics this week, and Jenks officials were unavailable for comment on upcoming clinics.

Walk-in clinic

The Tulsa Department has scheduled an H1N1 immunization clinic Thursday.

The clinic is set for 3 to 7 p.m. at Tulsa Community College’s Northeast Campus, 3737 E. Apache St.

Because of the limited supply of vaccine, the Health Department is targeting children 6 months to 18 years of age; pregnant women; front-line healthcare workers; and custodial parents of infants younger than 6 months, spokeswoman Melanie Christian said.

Staff writers Kim Archer and Clifton Adcock contributed to this story.

Andrea Eger 581-8470
andrea.eger@tulsaworld.com By ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "H1N1 vaccine to be available at three TPS schools," which was published on 10/28/2009.

	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (10/28/2009 8:44:26 PM) Am I understanding this correctly, only the students and employees of these schools will receive the vaccine? I'm curious, how are they deciding when and where the vaccines are given and who gets to receive them?
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (10/28/2009 5:22:19 PM) There was never any hesitation what so ever for my son and I in getting the vaccination. But I'm going to check with my doctor about the eye color change I'm seeing.
	Report Comment kseven, (10/29/2009 12:04:14 AM) I agree that it is foolish to give these kids one dose of the vaccine without following through with the necessary 2nd dose! I'd like to see some statistics in 28 days-how many parents actually follow through (or have the opportunity to do so)? Why waste the doses? Either make arrangements to give the kids what they need or use the resources elsewhere!
	Report Comment Ayo, T-Town (10/28/2009 4:36:42 PM) noise, you should read my bookmark, "China Hush"
	Report Comment Rimshot, Corn, OK (10/28/2009 10:49:17 PM) China Hush. Brought to you by American liberalism.
	Report Comment Rimshot, Corn, OK (10/28/2009 10:50:16 PM) I bet Obama's aunt got her shot. I bet you paid for it just like you're paying for her apartment.
	Report Comment Rimshot, Corn, OK (10/28/2009 10:56:58 PM) Liberals hate Big Pharma but they're first in line for the vaccines they develop.
	Report Comment THESMOKEHOLE, Tulsa (10/28/2009 10:48:43 PM) I think of all these people rushing to get the H1N1 vaccine and I am reminded of the movie "I am Legend"...kind of creepy...huh?
	Report Comment BettyRubble918, Tulsa (10/28/2009 4:19:30 PM) I heard that BO's not had his kids vaccinated. Things that make ya' go huh?
	Report Comment Elusive, the burbs (10/28/2009 5:58:11 PM) The nasal mist is for children under 10 only, over 10 get the shot. You can ask your pediatrician for the non-trimerosal vaccine without the mercury.
	Report Comment justiceawaits, Claremore (10/29/2009 9:26:01 AM) Is it really a good idea to teach kids to snort drugs? What`s wrong with a flu shot?
	Report Comment Paperjunkie#1, (10/28/2009 4:14:00 PM) Great advertisement. Her face sells it.
	Report Comment Bball Fan, (10/28/2009 4:25:03 PM) As you can see by the photo, this child received the nasal mist, which is a live virus. Not sure why children are receiving the live virus. My child's school is far down the vaccination list, and if the nasal mist is the only option, I will request that they not receive it. The shot is the way to go as it is a dead virus, cannot replicate and therefore, cause flu symptoms.
	Report Comment Bball Fan, (10/28/2009 5:42:12 PM) North CA - not putting my kids at risk, just would prefer that they receive the killed virus rather than the LIVE (although weakened) virus. It's my understanding that H1N1 killed virus is available, just that both versions are in short supply. Lots of handwashing going on!
	Report Comment nuffsaid, Tulsa (10/28/2009 4:31:03 PM) Why do they always show the most traumatized kids they can find to do a flu shot article? I'm sure that this makes all the other kids feel real comfortable.
	Report Comment noise, (10/28/2009 4:21:35 PM) "Students ... will require a second vaccination dose 28 days after the first dose. The health department does not plan on providing the second dose at the school site, so parents would be responsible for acquiring the second dose for their child." The parents will not follow through. This is a huge waste of vaccine and a huge waste of money. If the health dept. can not or will not provide 2nd doses at the sites, they should not bother with this. How stupid.
	Report Comment noise, (10/28/2009 4:30:50 PM) BettyRubble918 - Even Obama is not that stupid. Some of the H1N1 vaccine is made in China. Yes, that's the same China that put melamine in their baby formula, the same China that put lead paint on our toys. No one in their right mind would consider these vaccines.
	Report Comment noise, (10/28/2009 4:49:07 PM) Ayo - Sickening. And that's where the US chose to have vaccine manufactured. I'm sure it's totally safe to put in our bodies. Just like lead and melamine.
	Report Comment noise, (10/28/2009 5:42:03 PM) I am stunned at the number of parents that allowed something to be put in their child's body that was manufactured in China. You guys need to do your homework. That is just bizarre. When the government said "The vaccine being manufactured in China is totally safe," I knew that THEY knew. Nothing quite like Chinese quality control. I give it 3 years until we start hearing "oops" reports.
	Report Comment North CA, (10/28/2009 5:17:19 PM) Bball Fan, Incapacitated live virus, which is currently the only vaccine available. My children have had their first dose and are just waiting for the 28 days to expire to get their second dose. They had their regular flu vaccine as a shot so we could get both vaccines in the same day. It will take a while to get the H1N1 vaccine in a shot. I guess you'll have to debate which is the bigger risk to your children.
	Report Comment North CA, (10/28/2009 5:21:35 PM) And, the Obama girls have had their H1N1 vaccines as confirmed by the FLOTUS' office.
	Report Comment North CA, (10/28/2009 6:07:13 PM) Bbfan, The live, but incapacitated, virus is fine for healthy children. They are not recommending the mist for children who have underlying health conditions. While you are waiting for the shot vaccine and during a period after they receive it, children are at risk (it takes a period for the body to build up antibodies after the vaccine is given) children are obviously at risk for contracting H1N1. It is my understanding that the shot won't be avalailable until Nov. or Dec. AstraZeneca is manufacturing the mist in the US.
	Report Comment pusspocket, (10/28/2009 8:41:23 PM) It's amazing to me that I have asthema, and I have two younger kids. But I cannot get a shot for myself or my kids. But our President has got his kids shots allready. Huh they must have some underlying health condition I am not aware of. Just like a liberal to think of themselves first. While other people are dying because they can't get the shot
	Report Comment tulsan09, Tulsa (10/29/2009 8:00:09 PM) It's ironic that all of the "liberal haters" who whine about entitlements, are now whining because they can't get their free shots too. Probably the same people with children in public schools who demand free breakfast, free lunch, free school supplies, free uniforms, and on..and on..and on. And I wonder how many of these people are turning down the $8,000 tax credit for Cash for Clunkers rebates being offered. I would be willing to bet there has not been a single one.

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