Vaccine coming for students

Health care providers will soon start administering the swine flu vaccine free of charge to local children at their schools.
For most children under 10 years of age, it is given in two doses about a month apart, in the nasal mist form.
Parental consent is required, and consent forms will be sent home with children and posted on the school system’s Web site so parents can download them.
The forms must be signed and brought back to the schools before the vaccine is given.
Most children will receive the recommended mist form of the vaccination, although shots will be given to students with chronic illnesses. A limited number of shots are also available as an alternative, if parents of healthy children request them instead of the mist.
A tentative schedule of first-round vaccinations has been set, according to Shirl Williams, director of student services in the Jackson County school system.
Children of Sneads Elementary School, which has 655 students enrolled, will receive the first doses in about two weeks.
Two weeks after that, another school’s vaccination period will begin, and the remainder will also be staggered with roughly two weeks between schools.
Marianna High School, with 820 students, is next in line.
Cottondale Elementary Schools, enrollment 460, will be the third school, followed by Graceville High School, enrollment 382; and Golson Elementary, with 784 enrolled.
The schedules for the remaining schools will be announced later.
Williams said children enrolled in early childhood programs are already getting their vaccinations.
Educators and staffers will get their vaccines along with the students in their schools.
The shot form of the vaccine is recommended for people 50 years of age and older.