H1N1 (Swine) Flu Update
H1N1 Vaccination Update for FCCPS families
LAST UPDATED: 12:23 p.m. EDT, November 18, 2009
By: FCCPS Communications
Dear FCCPS Parents and Guardians:
The Fairfax County Health Department will operate a mass vaccination clinic on Saturday, November 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035). The vaccine is voluntary and will be offered on a walk-in basis, free of charge. Seasonal flu vaccine will not be available at this clinic.
Parents seeking a second dose of H1N1 vaccine for their children (who are under 10 years of age and received a first dose of H1N1 vaccine at least 28 days ago) may choose to receive vaccine through: (A) this mass vaccination clinic; (B) one of the Health Department’s five District Offices starting November 23; or (C) their doctor’s office if it has H1N1 vaccine. Parents must bring the “Influenza Vaccination Record” card that they received when the first dose was administered to the vaccination site.
The Health Department has the capacity to vaccinate a maximum of 12,000 people on November 21. To help reduce crowds and keep the line moving, Saturday’s clinic will target only children who need a second dose and those listed in the following CDC priority groups who have not yet received their first dose of H1N1 vaccine:
- Pregnant women
- People who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months (parents, siblings and day care providers)
- Health care workers who have direct patient contact
- People 6 months through 24 years of age
- People 25 through 64 years of age who have certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications:
- Asthma
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions (including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle (such as cerebral palsy), epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury.)
- Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis)
- Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
- Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
- Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
- Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
- People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
Stay Informed
To assist the public, Fairfax County will provide regular updates about the availability of H1N1 vaccine. Residents are encouraged to check one of the following official sources for updated information this week and throughout the day on Saturday, November 21:
Vaccine Information
Due to limited quantities of flu shot vaccine—compared with the nasal spray vaccine—we want to use available vaccine wisely and reserve the flu shot vaccine for high risk individuals for whom the nasal spray vaccine is not an option. Therefore, individuals who are eligible for nasal spray vaccine should expect to be offered only nasal spray vaccine.
Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine are posted online and available at health department locations. Residents are encouraged to read both statements to educate themselves.
Consent Forms
A child’s parent or legal guardian must sign a consent form before the child can be vaccinated. An adult 18 years or older must accompany children under the age of 18 to the vaccination site. Consent forms are available online and in the Health Department’s five district offices. Parents are encouraged to print or pick up the form and fill it out before visiting the vaccination site on November 21, if possible. Consent forms will also be available at the vaccination site.
Additional H1N1 Clinics
Updated information about the weekly availability and distribution of H1N1 vaccine will be posted on the county’s Web site, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/flu. Residents with additional questions about vaccine availability in Fairfax County may call the health department at 703-267-3511.
Residents may also check with their health care providers about availability of H1N1 vaccine or locate registered H1N1 vaccination sites through the Virginia Department of Health Web site: www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/DiseasePrevention/H1N1/VaccinationSites.htm
Fairfax County Health Department District Offices:
6245 Leesburg Pike, Suite 500, Falls Church, VA 22044 (703-534-8343)
1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Suite 100, Reston, VA 20190 (703-481-4242)
3750 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax City, VA 22030 (703-246-7100)
8350 Richmond Highway, Suite 233, Alexandria, VA 22309 (703-704-5203)
8136 Old Keene Mill Road, Suite A100, Springfield, VA 22152 (703-569-1031
From FCCPS Communications
H1N1 Virus Topic of Televised Town Meeting
LAST UPDATED: 11:04 a.m. EDT, October 9, 2009
By: FCCPS Communications
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Virginia is one of 37 states reporting widespread influenza activity at this time. Whether it is seasonal flu or the H1N1 (Swine) flu virus, any reports of widespread influenza activity in September are very unusual and are of concern to the Falls Church City Public Schools. While health officials are not confirming H1N1 influenza cases through testing unless a patient has to be hospitalized, the presumption is that flu-like illness this early in the season is probably the H1N1 virus.
On Monday, October 5, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., the Director of the Fairfax County Health Department, Gloria Addo-Ayensu, M.D., conducted a televised town meeting and presented the latest information about the H1N1 virus and vaccine, how the illness is spread and how it can be prevented.
POSTED: 3:45 p.m. EDT, September 2, 2009
By: FCCPS Communications
In light of the global outbreak of H1N1 (Swine flu) in the spring and the potential for widespread illness during the fall flu season, Falls Church City Public Schools and the Fairfax County Health Department are working together to prevent the spread of H1N1 among our students. Health experts say young people age 6 months to 24 years seem to be particularly vulnerable to the H1N1 virus, which is easily transmitted from person to person. In accordance with health department guidelines, students and staff who exhibit flu-like symptoms at school will be given a surgical mask and isolated from others until arrangements can be made for them to go home. All will be advised to stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have signs of fever without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Our goal is to keep schools open and functioning as usual throughout flu season. Here are some things you can do to help:
- Keep sick children at home. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache and fatigue. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
- Teach children good health hygiene. Cough into your sleeve or a tissue, not your hands. Wash your hands often, scrubbing your hands together for 20 seconds with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners and wipes can also be effective.
- Teach children not to share personal items like drinks, food and unwashed utensils, and avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Plan now for your children’s care if your children become ill with the flu and need to stay home. Other family members, friends or neighbors may be good sources of support in such a situation.
- Stay informed. The H1N1 vaccine is currently being tested in clinical trials, and it is expected to be available to the public by the end of October. Health experts recommend that children be vaccinated to prevent becoming ill and to prevent spreading the illness to other people.
On October 5, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., Fairfax County Health Department experts will present an informational program on FCC-TV to update the community on the H1N1 virus and vaccine, how the illness is spread and how it can be prevented. The program will be broadcast live on FCC-TV (Cox 12, RCN 2, Verizon 35) and will be rebroadcast at various times throughout the fall. The video and links to additional resources will also be posted on this page and we will keep you informed of any additional developments in our school system’s flu prevention efforts.
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