"I'm still going to do the flu mist for him tomorrow," said Sue White.
Parents have signed the necessary forms for 180 of the schools almost 500 students to receive the H1N1 flu-mist here on Wednesday---the first day possible to administer it, since children received the seasonal flu-mist four weeks ago.
This is the third year for that program.
"It's very well organized,” said the district’s health services supervisor, Marge Hoffmaster, “We can do a school in a day with just one nurse. So we'll bring an extra nurse in and have her administer that. Parents will be notified at the end of the day that their child received the flu-mist, and we'll go on to the next school."
In a 72-hour period, students at nine different schools will receive the flu-mist, and unlike some other districts, Carroll County will begin with its healthiest schools in hopes of limiting the spread of the virus.
"We looked at those schools, which had the best attendance,” said Assistant Superintendent of Schools Steve Guthrie, “The thought is that the H1N1 virus did not go through those so we wanted to provide that protection for those students."
Of the 12,000 students in the system, only 45% have received their parents’ permission to get the vaccine.
"There's a lot of indecision and a lot of concern,” said White, “I've received a lot of calls from parents asking what I think they should do."
With 2,000 doses on hand, any vaccines left over from this week’s program will be distributed in other schools next week.
