Flu Update Page

Re:           Upcoming School Vaccination Clinic

For the fourth year, free seasonal flu vaccine will be available for children aged 6 months through 18 years. This year the Department of Health is also making Tdap vaccine available to all children aged 11-14 years.

Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).     Several states are reporting outbreaks of whooping cough. In South Dakota, many parents are unaware that a Tdap booster is recommended for their adolescent children.

Influenza vaccination helps protect children from the flu and its complications and decreases the spread of influenza in the community, as children are often the biggest spreaders of the disease to adults and other children. During the 2009-2010 flu season 69 % of South Dakota’s cases were children 18 and younger and 50% of flu-related hospitalizations were for children 18 and younger.

The influenza and Tdap vaccines can be safely given at the same time.  The state is supplying the vaccines free of charge, and there will be no administration fee at school-based clinics.

 Vaccination clinics for all eligible infants and children will be held at the Watertown Middle School on Tuesday, October 25^th, 2011 and Thursday, November 3^rd, 2011 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.                          

Parents/guardians are encouraged to come to the clinic to be with their child when the vaccine is administered. If you would like your child to receive the vaccine but are unable to attend the clinic, you may designate another adult to bring your child.  Parents/guardians will need to complete the following:

·         Review the Vaccine Information Statements carefully -  keep for future reference

·         Complete one or both of the consent forms for the vaccine/s you wish your child to receive;

o        All children are eligible for Flu vaccine

o        Children aged 11-14 who need a booster are eligible for Tdap vaccine

·         Send completed consent form/forms with designated adult.

Vaccine Information Statements and consent forms can be found online at http://doh.sd.gov/WhoopingCough/default.aspx and http://doh.sd.gov/Flu/Default.aspx.

Some children age 8 and younger will need 2 doses of flu vaccine this year

·         Children aged 6 months – 8 years who did not receive any 2009-10 H1N1 vaccine need 2 doses separated by 4 weeks.

·         Children aged 6 months – 8 years receiving seasonal flu vaccine for the first time need 2 doses of vaccine separated by 4 weeks.

·         Children aged 6 months – 8 years who received seasonal flu vaccine for the first time last year but only had 1 dose need 2 doses separated by 4 weeks.

If you have questions about the vaccines or the scheduled clinic, please contact the South Dakota Department of Health in Codington County at 882-5177.