County students can get free flu shots next month

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control will give free H1N1 flu shots to students and staff at most public and private Beaufort County schools next month.

The first clinic will be Nov. 2.

The shots are voluntary, and written parental permission will be required, said Nick Davidson, coordinator of school-based clinics for DHEC Region 8, which encompasses Beaufort, Hampton, Colleton and Jasper counties. School-based clinics will be offered in all four counties, he said.

The shots will be given during the school day, and parents do not have to be present.

"The flu shot is the best way to protect against H1N1 flu," Davidson said. "It's the best and easiest way to do it."

Although vaccination against the flu is not required for school attendance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends school-age children get vaccinations for the seasonal flu and swine flu this year.

"We want to reach all the kids," Davidson said. "Where can we get to most of them in the easiest, quickest manner? School."

The H1N1 vaccine has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in two forms -- an injection and a nasal spray. Shots will be the only form used at county schools, Davidson said. The nasal spray requires additional screening because it is not safe for people with underlying health conditions, he said.

DHEC nurses will administer the shots, and school nurses will help manage the clinics, said Cynthia Hayes, student services officer for the Beaufort County School District.

Children under age 10 will need a second shot of the H1N1 vaccine at least 21 days after the first shot. A second flu shot clinic will be offered at schools in December for children who need a second dose, Davidson said.

Parents should expect to receive consent forms and information on the clinics from their child's school, Davidson said. The form must be signed, completed and returned to the school before a child receives a shot.

Children older than 6 months are eligible for the vaccine, Davidson said.

If children are unable to receive shots at school, parents should contact their health care provider, Davidson said. DHEC also will offer clinics at the health department in November, he said.