H1N1 Clinic and Dental Program both successful!

School Nurse, Mrs. Kathy Larson, School Nurse

     Lanesborough School held an H1N1 vaccination clinic on November 16, 2009.  The clinic took place in our library where a team of volunteers came in to administer the vaccine.  Children were then monitored and checked by an EMT prior to returning to class.  We vaccinated 101 students without incident.  Children under 10 years of age require a second dose of vaccine.  On December 14, 2009 we held our follow-up clinic, 75 students received their second dose. After a short delay in the delivery of vaccine, this clinic also went off without incident.  The same day 26 staff members also received the H1N1 vaccine.  Thank you to the team members who came to administer the vaccine. To our parent volunteers who walked each child through every step with an adult escort, I extend special thanks. Our clinic was a huge success!

 

     Our dental clinic was held on January 12.  The team from the Mobil Dentist Smiles Program 

provided xrays, cleanings, and dental sealents right here in the nurses office.  Twelve students took part in this fabulous program.  We hope to have them back again next year.

H1N1 Vaccine has Arrived!

School Nurse, Mrs. Kathy Larson

     As you may have heard the H1N1 Vaccine has been arriving in fairly small quantities.  Because our school has relatively small numbers and since  our paperwork is complete, our clinic has been set for MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16th.  This clinic is for students only with signed permission from parents.  The yellow 2 page permission slips were sent out in late October and were due back  October 30th.  If you signed a permission slip and you do not wish for your child to have the vaccine here at school (because they have had it already or you changed your mind) please notify me in writing and I will pull the permission slip. 

     Because immunizations can difficult for young children we highly encourage parents to attend with their children.  Any child that becomes too upset will not be vaccinated if a parent is not with them.  The clinic will start at 9 am and we will start in the lower grades. Children 9 and under will require a second dose of vaccine in one month.  A second clinic will be held for this purpose.

School Nurse, Mrs. Kathy Larson, School Nurse

May 06, 2009

A Message for Concerned Parents




Lauren SmithPosted by:
Dr. Lauren Smith, Department of Public Health


Lauren Smith is a pediatrician and the Medical Director for the Department of Public Health.

As parents, we want to do everything we can to protect our kids, especially when we are dealing with something new.  As a parent of 3 school-aged kids, I understand your concern.  But we don’t think that parents need to keep their kids home from school- even if that school has a confirmed a case of H1N1 Flu.

There are a couple of reasons for this:
1) Whether or not there is a confirmed case in your community or in your school, it is most likely there.  You should assume that you could be exposed to this new flu at school, at work or at the grocery store (in other words, anywhere you go).  So, it is really important to take common sense precautions to protect yourself.  That means washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water, or using an alcohol based hand-sanitizer, and staying away from people who are coughing or sneezing.

You can also help ensure that you don’t spread an illness to others by covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze.  Use a tissue, or cough into your sleeve if you don’t have one. 

Take this opportunity to reinforce both of these messages with your kids.  Teach them how to keep themselves from getting sick, and how not to spread disease to others when they do get sick- whether it’s a cold, the flu or some other illness.

2) Another reason we don’t feel it’s necessary to close schools, even with a confirmed case of H1N1, is that it doesn’t seem to be any more severe than a regular seasonal flu. We don’t close schools down for seasonal flu, so we it wouldn’t make sense to close them now.

Having said that, we have been, and will continue to, closely monitor the situation in coordination with schools.  If the number of absences starts to grow, we will work with individual school districts to reassess the situation.

And one last important note, some children have significant underlying medical conditions that put them at increased risk for any flu – seasonal or swine.  It makes sense for parents in this situation to talk to their child’s doctor about what is best for their child, just as they do when regular flu season starts. I want to reinforce that we think it is safe for kids to go to school just like they would during flu season, but ultimately, it’s a parent’s decision.  If you have questions, you should consult your child’s doctor so you can have the information you need to do what you feel is best for your child.










School Nurse, Mrs. Kathy Larson, School Nurse

Swine Flu Information – June 2, 2009

Berkshire County has its first case of confirmed
H1N1 influenza, now joining all other counties in Massachusetts
with reported cases. It is likely that Berkshire County will
have additional cases in the days and weeks ahead. As a result, we wanted to
reinforce the appropriate infection control guidelines.

Information for School and Childcare Settings

 


 

School or childcare participants with acute febrile respiratory illness, regardless of travel history, should be advised to stay home or be sent home according to facilities-established procedures with instructions to stay at home for least 7 days after the onset of illness or until 24 hours after their symptoms resolve, whichever is longer. This period of exclusion can be shortened if it is found that the child is unlikely to have influenza, for example if an alternative diagnosis is made. The 7 day period of exclusion would not apply to a child with an isolated fever and no respiratory or influenza symptoms.


 

Definition of Acute Respiratory Illness

Acute respiratory illness is defined as recent onset of fever >37.8 (100F) and at least two of the following: Runny nose, sore throat and cough


 

Remember your best defense against catching any virus is

HAND WASHING !

Mrs. Kathy Larson

School Nurse, Mrs. Kathy Larson

Kathy Larson is our school nurse.  She was a graduate of Lanesborough School and has been our nurse  since 1993.