IMPORTANT MFS H1N1 Flu Vaccination Clinics Information

Click here for a printable .pdf file of the entire mailing being sent home to parents on Monday, October 26.

Dear Parents,

Moorestown Friends School has been working with the Burlington County Health Department to plan voluntary in-school vaccination clinics for the H1N1 vaccine.  We have established clinic dates for current Moorestown Friends School students only, provided that the County receives a sufficient supply of vaccine in time:

H1N1 Vaccination Clinic:  Thursday, November 5, 1-5 p.m.
(Students in Preschool - Grade 2 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.)

Required follow-up clinic for children under ten years old:  Tuesday, December 1, 3-5 p.m.

Schedule:  A more detailed schedule for vaccinations will be disseminated during the week of
November 2.

Location:  D’Olier Room of the Meeting House.

IMPORTANT:  Deadline for signed consent form submission is Monday, November 2. Vaccinations must be pre-ordered by the school nurses.  No consent forms will be accepted after the close of business (4:15 p.m.) on November 2.

Our school nurses Edie Anderson and Sheryl Gofman have been working very hard throughout this process. They have been diligent in looking at every aspect of the clinic operations to be certain that we are prepared for this undertaking.

As I’m sure many of you have questions about this process, please review the Q and A below about the H1N1 vaccination process.

Remember, this is an entirely voluntary public health clinic. It is not mandatory and is being hosted by Moorestown Friends School as a public service to our students.  No child will be inoculated without the required consent form.  If you wish for your child to be vaccinated, please return the appropriate consent form to the Nurse's Office no later than Monday, November 2.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this very important health matter.

Regards,

Laurence Van Meter
Head of School

*IMPORTANT* Nasal Mist H1N1 Vaccine Information and Consent Forms
*IMPORTANT* Injection H1N1 Vaccine Information and Consent Forms

Q and A: H1N1 Vaccination

Who will be getting the H1N1 inoculation?
This is a public service being conducted by Moorestown Friends School at the request of the Burlington County Health Department in the hope of reaching as many children as possible. This is a totally voluntary program. In order for a student to be vaccinated during the clinic, parents must complete and return the authorized consent form. Those forms are found below. Our in-school clinics are open only to current Moorestown Friends School students.

Will our school nurses be administering the inoculations?
No. Certified personnel supplied by the county health department will administer the vaccinations. Our school nurses will be the operational managers of the clinics.

Will students receive nasal mist or injection vaccines in our clinics?
The Burlington County Health Department has advised us that a majority of our students will be able to receive the vaccine in the form of the nasal mist. However, the nasal mist vaccine is not recommended for children with certain health conditions such as asthma, a weakened immune system, and certain muscle and nerve disorders. Please read the enclosed information carefully and consult your physician if you are uncertain whether your child should receive the nasal mist or the shot.

How will we handle students who become anxious at the prospect of the vaccination?
Students who have permission to be inoculated, but who display heightened anxiety, will not be inoculated in school. They will be sent home with a note explaining that their anxiety level precluded inoculation, and parents will be advised to consult their family physician for the vaccine.

May parents accompany their child for inoculation during clinics?
Yes. Moorestown Friends School is requiring that a parent or guardian accompany students in Preschool - Grade 2 to their vaccination. Parents may opt to accompany children in Grade 3 and above to their vaccination.

How will parent consent forms be handled?
This is a public service. It is not mandatory, and parents will have the option to have their child vaccinated in school, at their family physician or pediatrician’s office, or not at all. It is urged that all children receive the H1N1 vaccine to guard against the spread of the flu, but this is a parent’s choice. Consent forms are supplied in this package by the Burlington County Health Department and will be mailed to all school families and posted on the school website and Intranet (see special H1NI Vaccination Information link).

How do I decide if my child should be vaccinated?
This is a very important decision for you as a parent, and one that should be made in consultation with your pediatrician or family physician. Please study the information you receive with your consent forms carefully. You may also pose questions to the Burlington County Health Department at 609-265-5548.

Is there a cost involved for inoculation in our in-school clinics?
No. The federal government is covering all costs involved in public H1N1 vaccination clinics.

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