PIERSON -- With the number of H1N1 swine flu cases on the rise, the Volusia County Health Department announced Tuesday it will conduct the first in a series of planned school vaccination clinics. The first clinic will be from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in Northwest Volusia.
“We know we have swine flu in the community and we know this strain of influenza is affecting children more severely than healthy adults,”
said Health Department Director Dr. Bonnie Sorensen. “Vaccination is the best protection against influenza. These vaccination clinics will
provide an opportunity for children and teachers to get this vaccine.”
The vaccination clinic will be in the gymnasium of Taylor Middle-High School, 100 E. Washington Ave., Pierson. The clinic will provide free
H1N1 swine flu vaccines to children and teachers/school staff who live or attend school in the Northwest Volusia community that includes
Taylor-Middle High School, Pierson Elementary, and McInnis Elementary schools; and childcare, Pre-Kindergarten, HeadStart, charter,
home-school, or private schools in the DeLeon Springs, Pierson and Seville area.
Sorensen said the Health Department is working with community partners to establish other vaccination sites. The dates and locations of future vaccination sites will be determined by availability of the vaccine from the federal government.
“Our overall goal is to eventually vaccinate everyone in the county who wants to receive it,” said Sorensen. “But that’s going to take a while, not just here, but across the country.”
H1N1 swine flu vaccinations are voluntary. Residents should visit www.VolusiaHealth.com and click on Let’s Fight Flu Together for
detailed information about the vaccine and to print a vaccine consent form, which must be signed by the person receiving the vaccine or the
child’s parent/guardian before the vaccine will be administered. Vaccine information and consent forms also will be available at the
vaccination clinic and in the school offices of Taylor Middle-High School, Pierson Elementary, and McInnis Elementary.
Residents also can view H1N1 swine flu information and print a consent form using Volusia County public library computers. For a complete list of library locations, visit www.VolusiaLibrary.org or call (386) 239-7756 (Daytona Beach), (386) 423-3868 (New Smyrna Beach), or (386)
822-5062 (DeLand).
Parents are advised that children through 9 years should get two doses of the vaccine. Children should receive the second dose of the vaccine approximately 21 to 28 days later. A second vaccination will be offered by the health department at their clinics. For a complete listing of health department clinics, please visit www.VolusiaHealth.com. Children 10 years and older require only one dose of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine to be fully protected.
People who have a severe (life-threatening) allergy to eggs or to any other substance in the vaccine should not get H1N1 swine flu vaccine.
For complete information about the H1N1 swine flu vaccine, to include its safety and possible side effects, residents should visit
www.VolusiaHealth.com and click on Let’s Fight Flu Together. Residents also may call the Volusia County Health Department Flu
Information Line at (866) 821-7704 for more information.
Residents also may ask their private doctors as to whether they will be administering the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. Health officials advise that
private doctors may charge a minimal administrative fee.