As a new school year gets underway, it’s a good bet that the flu season will be upon us before too long. BoardBuzz remembers all too well the frenzy, fear and tragedy around the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic and is grateful that preparations for the 2010 flu season seems a lot calmer.
Although the World Health Organization has declared the H1N1 pandemic virtually over, the flu in some form will be back. So we checked out what message the federal government is sending to schools right now at its central website, www.flu.gov:
The most important things schools can do to reduce the risk of flu is to encourage flu vaccination for all students and those staff who are recommended for vaccination; suggest early treatment for people at higher risk for flu complications; facilitate use of respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by students and staff; ensure that sick students and adults do not come to the facility; and separate sick and well people as soon as possible. School administrators should frequently remind students, their families, and staff about the importance of these.
So update those letters you sent to parents last year, order a lot of soap and hand sanitizer, put up signs around the school, re-teach students and staff how to sneeze or cough into your elbow, and reconnect with public health officials and other care providers to plan partnership activities including education programs for staff, students and community, and setting up school-located vaccination (SLV) clinics.
The seasonal flu vaccine prepared for the 2010-2011 season will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus. So for most people, the nasal spray or one shot should suffice this year. As important, the recommendation this year is for everyone six months of age and older to get vaccinated against the flu as soon as the 2010-2011 season vaccine is available.
SLV clinics are an important way for schools to contribute to preventing the spread of influenza. NSBA’s school health staff has been working with CDC and other key partners to update the SLV guidelines developed in 2009.
Connect with your state school board association’s website and NSBA’s Flu Planning for Schools website for easy access to lots of timely information that will be routinely updated.
