The Department of Education announced that vaccines for the H1N1 and seasonal flu viruses will arrive at elementary schools with fewer than 400 students on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Larger elementary schools will receive the vaccines a week later on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Vaccinations will be available to middle and high school students on weekends at off-campus sites in early November.
Although vaccinations are not mandatory for public school students, the DOE recommends that all children between the ages of six and 19 be vaccinated. Children under 10 receive two doses, administered in schools, four weeks apart.
Students must present consent forms signed by a parent or guardian. These will be sent home with students next week. They are also available online through the DOE's Influenza Information website.
Families of elementary students should return these forms to their school; middle and high school students should bring them to the off-campus locations where they will be vaccinated at the time of vaccination.
The DOE will continue to release information on this season's flu and student vaccinations at www.nyc.gov/flu.
Is your child going to be vaccinated? Take our poll and let us know why or why not! Vote now!
Please post comments