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Survey: Parents Want Swine Flu Clinics in Schools

School officials are planning to hold vaccination clinics, but no dates have been set.

 

Millburn school officials are planning to offer swine flu vaccinations in the schools based on the responses to a survey sent to parents last week.

"We've had an overwhelming response of parents who would like this offered to their child," Schools Supt. Richard Brodow said. "We will do it if (the Millburn Health Department) asks us. It makes sense to give it as an option to parents."

About 700 families responded to the survey, and 81 percent said they were interested in swine flu, or H1N1, vaccinations in the schools. The responses were split between those who wanted morning and evening clinics. The survey was administered through the district's Web site, and responses are still welcome.

Any swine flu vaccine clinic would be voluntary and would be free, Brodow said. A meeting is planned for Wednesday for school officials to start planning for such a clinic. More specific plans may not be known until next week, said Nancy Dries, school district spokeswoman.

Lou Anello, Millburn health official, said they are still waiting to learn when the swine flu vaccine would be delivered to New Jersey. Health officials are expecting the injectable variety of the vaccine.

Until health officials know when they will receive the vaccine, they cannot make specific plans with school officials on a clinic, he said. They may receive the vaccine in late October or November.

Last spring, there were two confirmed cases of swine flu at Millburn Middle School. School officials opted to close the middle school after 170 students were absent with a form of the flu. The school was cleaned and sanitized when it was closed, and cleaning crews did the same work at all Millburn schools over the following weekend.

Related Topics: Flu, H1N1, Health, and Swine Flu

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