MC Nursing Students Help Administer H1N1 Vaccines
Mississippi College School of Nursing students will help administer H1N1 influenza vaccines to hundreds of youngsters in the Clinton public schools.
About 72 MC student nurses will visit eight Clinton schools Thursday and Friday to assist the state Health Department in the administration of the shots, said professor Deborah Bolian. "We are providing a good bit of manpower."
On November 6, MC student nurses helped give H1N1 shots to youngsters at McWillie and Oak Forest elementary schools, part of the Jackson district. "We gave 300 shots in four hours at McWillie," Bolian said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta recommended giving the H1N1 shots first to targeted groups, including pregnant women, healthcare and emergency medical personnel and persons between the ages of six months and 24 years old.
The MC students are giving the shots in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Health. At some other locations around the state, student nurses from other institutions are assisting, Bolian said.
There is no charge for Clinton students receiving the H1N1 shots, Bolian said.
Voluntary immunizations at schools sites are part of a combined effort by the state Department of Health and Mississippi Department of Education. Clinton schools sent packets to parents this week including permission slips for the shots.
Earlier in the week, there were several hundred permission slips turned in within the Clinton district.
Reports from the CDC show that 31,493,600 doses of the H1N1 vaccaine have been shipped to states as of November 9. The total shipped to Mississippi as of November 4 was 209,400 doses.
Health Department officials are also advising people to take the regular flu vaccine this flu season.
MC student nurses will be at Clinton Park Elementary, Eastside Elementary, Lovett Elementary, Sumner Hill Junior High and Clinton High on Thursday.
On Friday, the MC student nurses will visit Clinton Alternative School, Northside Elementary and Clinton Junior High.
Children who have not returned a signed consent form will not receive the H1N1 vaccination, school officials say.
For more information about the H1N1 virus, visit the Mississippi Department of Health at www.healthyms.com or call the CDC at 800.CDC.INFO (or 800.232.4636).
Sign-up For Our Newsletter
Get the latest news about Mississippi College delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Along College Street e-newsletter.
