Top News Stories
School nurses at the ready
Oct 29, 2009 3:28 PM
School nurse Mary O’Leary of PS 811 at Queens HS in Bellerose is ready for the challenge ahead as the new vaccination program gears up.
School nurses will be on the frontlines of a large, new program to administer flu vaccine for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus this fall to all elementary school students whose parents have given written consent, Chapter Chair Pat Ross said.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene plans to offer in-school H1N1 vaccination to all elementary school students starting in late October and at centrally located school sites on the weekends for middle school and high school students in early November.
“It’s a great program for the students to get vaccinated who might not otherwise get the opportunity and it takes the pressure off working parents,” Ross said.
Highlighting the extensive nature of this new vaccination program, B.J. Darby, UFT chapter chair for the supervisors of school nurses, said, “We’re all in agreement that this is a wonderful opportunity for kids. We encourage parents to talk to their children’s primary care physicians, and if the doctor thinks it’s a good idea, to take advantage of it. This is a massive undertaking, and we’re there to support the program and the nurses.”
The first round of the vaccination program is scheduled from Oct. 28 through the day before Thanksgiving, with a second round ending before Christmas. Students under 9 years of age will need two doses of the vaccine, administered four weeks apart.
The vaccine can be administered in two different forms: either a nasal mist or an injection. The nasal mist is not appropriate for everyone, and health officials suggest it should be avoided by children, pregnant women and other adults with chronic health conditions, certain nerve or muscle diseases, weakened immune systems and long-term aspirin treatment.
In an Oct. 6 meeting with the director of school nursing for the Department of Education’s Office of School Health as well as representatives from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Ross and other UFT representatives had the opportunity to discuss the program in full and air members’ concerns.
If a child is frightened and doesn’t cooperate, school nurses will not have to administer the vaccine. School nurses will immunize all students, with assistance where needed, including teams for larger schools.
“Principals are being told of the program and will provide support from their staff for the school nurse,” Ross said. “We have to monitor the children for 15 minutes after the vaccine for any untoward effects, so someone aside from the school nurse will have to do that.”
