Influenza Vaccination Update

I am happy to report that we have finished our preparations to offer free influenza vaccinations to our students and staff. We worked closely with the Orange Department of Public Health Director, Roger Mallet and the Office of Public Health at the state level to secure vaccinations for our school community. Now we are awaiting the delivery of vaccinations so that we move into the action phase of this project.

Soon, our students will be coming home with forms that must be filled out if they are to receive one or both vaccinations that will be offered during the school day at Mahar. We anticipate the arrival of the H1N1 vaccinations first, and then the seasonal influenza vaccine a week or two later. Any parent who is interested in having their child or children vaccinated simply has to fill out and sign the forms that come home with our students. As a safeguard, we will be calling parents to verify the authenticity of their signatures on the forms that we receive back from our students.

Anyone with questions or concerns about the H1N1 vaccination should consult first the fact sheet that we send home with the sign up forms. If questions and/concerns remain unanswered, parents can call the school and speak directly with our school nurse at 978-544-2542. It is important to note that the influenza vaccinations are optional – and are simply being offered at school as both a courtesy and convenience for our families.

I have learned that there are many different thoughts about vaccination in general. Some parents and community members are diligent about getting vaccinated every year, while others have gone their whole lives without having the influenza vaccination. It is our hope that this initiative will serve to reduce the number of H1N1 and seasonal influenza cases in our community, nonetheless.