CDC Releases New H1N1 Guidelines For Schools
Reported August 07, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced changes on Friday that give school districts more responsibility in preventing the H1N1 virus and having a plan in place to prevent an outbreak.
With a little more than two weeks until the start of school, many children are not thinking about class. But moms like Tara Walters are and she’s thinking of what to do to make sure they are prepared.
“I haven’t in the past given them flu vaccinations but I have considered it for this year,” Walters said.
Many parents may be considering the vaccination after the recent H1N1 outbreak. The CDC has updated guidelines for how schools should respond to the disease, 10TV’s Tanisha Mallet reported.
“The idea is to hone in on the exact science and what it is exactly that we can do to stop the spread and make the minimal disruption to the community as possible,” said Franklin Co. Health Commissioner Susan Tilgner.
The CDC recommends schools encourage sick students to stay home and take anyone who appears sick to a separate room until they can be sent home. They also said schools should encourage hand washing, routinely clean high-traffic areas and provide access to early treatment for high-risk students and staff and the ability for high-risk students to be dismissed.
The guidelines also include giving schools access to vaccinations.
“Certainly school-age children are one of the groups that we are looking at for the vaccinations that may come out later in the fall and there is some discussion as to whether or not some of those clinics could be in the schools,” Tilgner said.
Some parents aren’t crazy about that idea, Mallet reported.
“I’d rather the parents and the doctors work it out together and the schools can provide information,” said mother Amanda Trees.
Others said they are pleased the schools are thinking about it because they are, too.
“Definitely, we’re ready for school,” Walters said.
The school guidelines are part of a broader national plan to respond to the H1N1 virus, which includes encouraging people to be vaccinated against the virus and to take other actions to avoid infection.
Source : 10TV.com