ATTENTION: FLU & H1N1 INFO- FLU/VACCINATION LOCATIONS, FLU SHOTS FOR STUDENTS

Following the announcement that the administration is offering free flu shots to students to help prevent the spread of H1N1 this fall, and Fort Greene's brush with the swine flu, we are happy to share the following with parents of the 35th District--

The City is emphasizing preventative measures in order to keep influenza out of schools. Firstly, all children are expected to be properly vaccinated by their medical provider, or at a flu vaccination clinic. Additionally, some drug stores are offering flu services (including influenza and H1N1 vaccinations) to individuals without regular doctors.

Children should be kept home if ill. The City is monitoring public schools for sudden increases in influenza-like illness (ILI). If a school nurse sees 5 or more cases of students exhibiting ILI in one day, the school will send a letter to parents and guardians stressing the need to keep sick children home. If a school nurse reports ILI in 4% (a minimum of 15 students) of the school’s students on a given day, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will conduct an on-site assessment of the school and work with the school to strengthen its flu prevention efforts.

As stated, the City is providing the H1N1 vaccine at no cost to public and non-public school students. Elementary school students have received H1N1 information packets with vaccination consent forms that parents and guardians must return to have their children vaccinated. No child will be vaccinated without parental consent.

The vaccination program in elementary schools will take place over three phases: phase one will begin on October 28th in school buildings with enrollments of less than 400 students; phase two starts on November 4th in school buildings with enrollments of more than 600 students; and phase three begins on November 9th in the remaining elementary schools. Non-public schools that choose to participate will also be scheduled to receive the vaccine during this period.

Below are the elementary schools participating in the vaccination program:

Phase I-
P.S. 046 Edward C. Blum
P.S. 020 Clinton Hill
P.S. 287 Bailey K. Ashford
P.S. 316 Elijah Stroud
P.S. 157 Benjamin Franklin

Phase II
P.S. 221 Toussaint L'Ouverture

Phase III
P.S. 167 The Parkway
P.S. 161 The Crown
P.S. 011 Purvis J. Behan
P.S. 022
P.S. 375 Jackie Robinson School
P.S. 067 Charles A. Dorsey
COMMUNITY ROOTS CHARTER SCHOOL
P.S. 009 Teunis G. Bergen
P.S. 241 Emma L. Johnston