H1N1 clinic slated for Linton-Stockton schools Tuesday

An H1N1 vaccination clinic will be conducted at Linton-Stockton Schools on Tuesday.

The free clinic is slated for noon to 6 p.m. and will be in the junior high gym.

On Friday, L-S School Superintendent Ron Bush provided details on the clinic in a letter posted on the corporation's Web site.

"Students who do not have a signed H1N1 vaccine consent form will not be given the vaccine," Bush stressed in the letter.

Students in grades four through 12 will be vaccinated with a signed consent form between noon and 3 p.m. Parents of children in grades four through 12 who want to be present during the vaccination should plan on attending the vaccination clinic after 3 p.m.

But students in grades kindergarten through third grade will not be vaccinated without a parent/guardian being present as well as a signed consent form.

The clinic will be conducted by staff and volunteers from the Greene County Health Department.

"The vaccination is being provided free of charge by the federal government," Bush said.

The Greene County Health Department and volunteers, as well as the federal government, are immune from tort liability from injuries or adverse reactions to the vaccination.

"It is unclear at this time if students will receive the H1N1 FluMist or the H1N1 flu booster injection," Bush explained. "The type of the flu vaccination received will depend upon supply volumes of the vaccination available."

Students with severe health risks such as asthma or diabetes will only receive the H1N1 Flu booster injection.

"The supply of the H1N1 vaccine will determine the number of individuals receiving the vaccinations," he also said.

It is possible a shortage of vaccine will result in some students not receiving the vaccination on Tuesday.

Both forms of the H1N1 vaccine were developed from a weakened form of the H1N1 virus. A weakened form of the virus was injected into eggs to develop the vaccine. People with a severe (life-threatening) allergy to eggs should not receive the vaccine, he noted. As with any medication, the H1N1 vaccination has minor side effects associated with the vaccine.

"The decision to have your son or daughter receive the H1N1 vaccine is your decision to make. The decision should be made weighing the consequences of your son or daughter being infected with the H1N1 virus versus of any known side effects with the vaccine," Bush says.

The H1N1 vaccine is being provided by the Greene County Health Department. As a result, Linton-Stockton School Corporation is immune from tort liability in terms of administration of the vaccine.

"Your son or daughter may receive the vaccine or you may choose not to receive the vaccination," Bush added.

For more details on the clinic as well as possible side effects from the vaccine, log onto www.lssc.k12.in.us/ .