H1N1 and influenza information
Updates
Nov. 20, 2009
Springfield Public Schools has scheduled two more H1N1 vaccine clinics. Clinics will be held Nov. 23 at Weller Elementary School and Dec. 1 at Hillcrest High School. Following is the most current list of H1N1 clinics scheduled from now until the end of the year:
Nov. 20 at Watkins Elementary School; Nov. 23 at Bissett, Weller and York elementary schools; Nov. 24 at Reed Middle School and Williams Elementary School; Dec. 1 at Hillcrest High School; Dec. 3 at Pittman and Bingham elementary schools; Dec. 4 at Field and Sequiota elementary schools; Dec. 8 at Pershing K-8 and Wilder Elementary School; Dec. 9 at Hickory Hills K-8; Dec. 10 at Glendale High School; Dec. 14 at Shady Dell Early Childhood Center and Delaware Elementary School; Dec. 15 at Holland and Twain elementary schools; Dec. 16 at Sunshine, Portland and Sherwood elementary schools; Dec. 17 at Jarrett Middle School and Rountree Elementary School; and Dec. 18 at Parkview High School.
Nov. 19, 2009
The H1N1 vaccine clinic scheduled for Nov. 19 at Watkins Elementary has been moved to Friday, Nov. 20. The clinic scheduled for Dec. 17 at Delaware Elementary has been rescheduled for Monday, Dec. 14.
The school district has also set dates for vaccine clinics at additional schools. Following is the most current list of H1N1 clinics scheduled from now until the end of the year:
Nov. 20 at Watkins Elementary School; Nov. 23 at Bissett and York elementary schools; Nov. 24 at Reed Middle School and Williams Elementary School; Dec. 3 at Pittman and Bingham elementary schools; Dec. 4 at Field and Sequiota elementary schools; Dec. 8 at Pershing K-8 and Wilder Elementary School; Dec. 9 at Hickory Hills K-8; Dec. 10 at Glendale High School; Dec. 14 at Shady Dell Early Childhood Center and Delaware Elementary School; Dec. 15 at Holland and Twain elementary schools; Dec. 16 at Sunshine, Portland and Sherwood elementary schools; Dec. 17 at Jarrett Middle School and Rountree Elementary School; and Dec. 18 at Parkview High School.
Nov. 12, 2009
H1N1 vaccine clinics for students are scheduled as follows: Nov. 13
at Carver Middle School and Wilson's Creek 5-6 School; Nov. 17 at Cherokee Middle School; Nov. 18 at Kickapoo High School; Nov. 19 at Truman, Watkins and Fremont elementary schools; Nov. 23 at Bissett, York, Weller elementary schools (to finish Central High School attendance area); Nov. 24 at Reed Middle School and Williams Elementary School; Dec. 1 at Hillcrest High School; and Dec. 2 at Pleasant View Elementary and Middle School.
As additional vaccines are available, clinics will be scheduled at schools in the Glendale High School attendance area and Parkview High School attendance area.
Nov. 10, 2009
Springfield-Greene County Health Department issues a weekly H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Update. View the Nov. 10 update.
Nov. 10, 2009
H1N1 vaccine clinics have been scheduled in the Kickapoo High School attendance area as follows: Nov. 11 at Disney, Cowden and Jeffries elementary schools; Nov. 12 at McBride and Harrison elementary schools; Nov. 13 at Carver Middle School and Wilson's Creek 5-6 School; Nov. 17 at Cherokee Middle School; and Nov. 18 at Kickapoo High School. Written parental permission is required. Contact your school nurse for more information. Vaccines will be administered in the Hillcrest High School attendance area next.
Nov. 4, 2009
Springfield Public Schools recieved about 480 H1N1 vaccines Nov. 4 and began administering them at Central High School. Vaccines will be administered at Gray Elementary School on Nov. 5. Additional shipments of vaccine are expected in the next few days.
Nov. 3, 2009
Springfield-Greene County Health Department issues a weekly H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Update. View the Nov. 3 update.
Nov. 2, 2009
Springfield Public Schools expected to receive the vaccines in time to begin administering them Nov. 2 at Central High School and Bowerman Elementary School. Although the shipment has been delayed, the district still expects to receive vaccines this week and administer them at these two schools, plus Gray Elementary School.
Oct. 30, 2009
Springfield Public Schools expects to have at least 480 H1N1 vaccines to administer the week of Nov. 2. The vaccines will be administered at Central High School Monday, Nov. 2. Staff will also finish vaccinating students at Bowerman Elementary School that day. On Thursday, Nov. 5, a vaccine clinic will be held at Gray Elementary School. Read more.
Oct. 29, 2009
The Department of Health & Senior Services has established a toll-free telephone service to provide the latest facts and information about H1N1 flu and the availability of the vaccine. Call
1-877-358-4141. Read more.
School nurses promote prevention to deter flu
Springfield Public Schools carefully monitors students for any flu-like symptoms and educates students and staff about preventive measures.
“Prevention is always the best course of action in a situation like this,” explained Jean Grabeel, coordinator of student health services. “Our school nurses regularly review good hand-washing techniques with both students and staff and promote preventive practices.”
School nurses also monitor for signs and symptoms of illness including:
- Fever greater than 100 degrees F or 37.8 degrees C;
- Body aches, chills, headache, fatigue;
- Stuffy nose, cough, sore throat; and
- Possible nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
To help prevent the spread of disease, the Health Department encourages individuals to practice proven disease-prevention methods such as effective hand washing, keeping a distance of at least six feet from someone who is ill, using respiratory etiquette and avoiding touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
People who have a flu-like illness should stay home to protect others from contracting it.
Parents, click here for more information on how to talk to your children about the flu.
Help Fight the Flu
You play an important role in how the flu affects our community and can help us slow the spread of a flu virus in our community. Rather than waiting for flu season to begin this fall, we recommend you start now planning to protect your family and our community as we “Fight the Flu” together.
- Protect your family
- get your family vaccinated against seasonal flu,
- establish healthy practices of hand washing and not sharing personal items,
- stockpile food and medication in case you need to voluntarily isolate or quarantine yourself and your family,
- make arrangements for child care if schools close, and
- talk to your employer about flexible work schedules.
- Protect yourself
- get a seasonal flu shot,
- wash your hands,
- keep a distance of at least 6 feet from people who are sick, and
- choose a healthy lifestyle to build your immune system, including
- get adequate sleep,
- reduce stress,
- stop smoking and using tobacco products,
- stay physically active,
- choose nutritious foods, and
- drink plenty of water.
- Protect our community
- stay home if you are sick,
- keep kids home when they have a fever (for at least 24 hours after their fever goes away without the use of medications),
- cover your cough,
- wash your hands, and
- don’t share personal items.
Dismissing school
A decision to dismiss students from school will be made in consultation with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services based upon local conditions. Factors influencing the decision include:
- the number and severity of cases in an outbreak (looking at national, regional, and local data),
- the risks of flu spread and benefits of dismissal,
- the problems that school dismissal can cause for families and the community.
These will dictate which type of dismissal will be employed: Selective (when all or most students in school are at higher risk for complications once infected with flu); Reactive (many students and staff are sick and are not attending school or being sent home for illness), or Preemptive (used early during flu response to decrease the spread of flu before many students and staff get ill and based on number of cases of severe flu within the region).
Informational resources
The following documents share tips to prevent spread of the flu:
- Parent letter - Information from Springfield-Greene County Health Department director.
- Tips for Parents - Suggestions for talking to children about H1N1.
- Tips for Teachers - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggestions for helping prevent the spread of flu.
- Frequently Asked Questions - Answers to common questions about H1N1.
- Fight the Flu!- Explanations of different types of the flu, comparison of cold vs. flu symptoms, and a checklist of how to protect yourself against the flu.
- Fight the Flu! - List of ways to protect yourself from the flu.
- Cover your Cough, Clean your Hands- Informational poster
- No hotheads in our school - Informational poster
Helpful Web sites
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Springfield-Greene County Health Department