School-by-school schedule starts this week, runs to mid-December
SAKONNET AREA — Little Compton students were among the state’s first to receive immunization against H1N1, while other schools in these towns will get the ‘swine flu’ vaccine later this week and in coming weeks.
Vaccinations were provided at Wilbur & McMahon Schools on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m., and at Pennfield School in Portsmouth on Tuesday.
The Tiverton and Portsmouth school schedule is as follows (dates subject to vaccine availability — schools will keep families informed):
Tiverton
• Ranger School, Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 4-8 p.m.
• Middle School, Thursday, Dec. 3, from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Fort Barton School, Thursday, Dec. 3, from 4-8 p.m.
• Pocasset School, Friday, Dec. 4, from 4-8 p.m.
• High School, Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 8:30a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Portsmouth
• Melville School, Thursday, Nov. 19, after school
• St. Philomena School, Thursday, Nov. 19, after school
• Portsmouth High School, Tuesday, Dec. 1, school day
• Aquidneck Island Christian Academy, Tuesday, Dec. 1. after school
• Portsmouth Abbey School, Tuesday, Dec. 1, school day
• Hathaway School, Thursday, Dec. 3, after school
• Elmhurst School, Thursday, Dec. 10, after school
• Portsmouth Middle School, Tuesday, Dec. 15, school day
Participation voluntary
H1N1 immunization is voluntary and requires a signed parental consent form. If you want your child to receive the H1N1 immunization, please return the signed parental consent form to the school nurse as quickly as possible.
The clinic schedule was established by the state Department of Health using a randomized process in order to be fair to all communities.
School clinics are only for children in kindergarten and above who are officially registered at that school and for officially registered home-schooled students who would normally be assigned to that school. n one at the local level can add other children or adults to the schedule.
Preschoolers have to be vaccinated through their doctor’s office, even if they attend pre-school in a public school.
There will be no make-up clinics. Children who miss the school clinic will need to be taken to their doctor for immunization. This may mean a substantially longer wait.
Children under 10 will need two shots. Dates for the second shot clinics have not yet been posted.
Check school websites for updates.
Parents are asked to keep sick children home. Students may not return to school or attend school-related activities until they have been fever free (temp. below 100) for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
Absentees
On Monday, the state Department of Education began public daily internet postings of absentee levels in the state’s public schools. To view the previous day’s list, visit this website:
