Health authority, school board to give H1N1 shots to students

TRURO - The Colchester East Hants Health Authority (CEHHA) is partnering with the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board to administer H1N1 vaccinations to students in Grades 10 to 12.
Due to logistical and resource issues and concerns around verifying informed consent, public health is not able to provide vaccination clinics for students in all schools. However, it is now partnering with the school board to offer clinics at some high schools for students in Grades 10 to 12. Students in that age range do not require consent from a parent or guardian to receive the vaccination. Next week clinics will be held at Hants North Rural High in Kennetcook and the North Colchester High School in Tatamagouche. Details are being finalized regarding further clinics at other schools the following week.
In both cases, these clinics will be open to the public after school hours to provide access to students in younger grades, their families and the community in general.
Since the launch of the H1N1 vaccination campaign, more than 21,000 doses have been administered in Colchester-East Hants clinics. More than 12,000 doses have also been supplied to family physicians, nursing homes and other community organizations.
CEHHA estimates up to 40 per cent of residents have now received protection from the H1N1 virus through its vaccination program. A further 6,000 doses of the seasonal influenza vaccine have also been administered through public health clinics - twice what is normally delivered during the annual influenza
campaign.

smartell@trurodaily.com