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State offers free influenza vaccine
to children
The State of South Dakota will offer
influenza vaccine free of charge to all South Dakota children 6
months through 18 years of age. The Departments of Health and
Education are encouraging schools to support and promote flu
vaccination for students.
During the 2006-07 influenza season, 70 percent of flu cases
were individuals 0 to 19 years of age. Forty-three percent of
flu-related hospitalizations were individuals 0 to 10 years of
age. Targeting this population for vaccination will help reduce
the spread of flu, decrease illness and death from the disease,
and increase school attendance.
If your district has a school nurse, that nurse could become a
vaccine provider and administer the flu shots for your students.
If you do not have a school nurse, the community health nursing
office or a local clinic may be willing to help you organize a
shot clinic for your students. Schools can also help make
parents aware of the free shots and encourage them to take
advantage of this opportunity.
For more information about this initiative, contact the
Department of Health’s Office of Community Health Services at
1-800-738-2301. Or visit
http://flu.sd.gov.
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