Important Message Regarding In-School H1N1 Immunization Program

Eastern Health is working on a plan to immunize all school-aged children in the school setting wherever possible and feasible. To have your child vaccinated at school, parental consent is required.

A letter, a parent consent form and information on the H1N1 vaccine was sent home today with students. If your child was not in school today, you can access the necessary forms and information from the school website, or from the Eastern School District website: www.esdnl.ca.

If you wish to have your child receive the H1N1 vaccination at school, please complete the parent consent form and return it to your child's classroom teacher as soon as possible.

Further details on the schedule for school vaccinations will be provided next week.

As vaccine becomes available, an immunization team will be providing the H1N1 vaccination to students at school wherever feasible and possible.

Attached is information on the vaccination and a consent form. If you want your child to receive the H1N1 vaccination at school, please complete the attached consent form and return to your child's home room teacher as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, you can call your local Public Health Nurse or the toll-free H1N1 telephone line at each of the regional Health Authorities. Additional information is also available at each health authority's website.

The pandemic H1N1 influenza is caused by a new strain of influenza virus. It is different than the seasonal

flu in that most people have little or no immunity to the pandemic H1N1 influenza. The pandemic H1N1

influenza, also known as human swine influenza – is a respiratory illness with symptoms that are similar to

those of regular seasonal influenza. While pandemic influenza has been mild in most cases it has been

severe in some people and has resulted in a number of deaths. The pandemic H1N1 influenza is affecting

more young and healthy people than the regular seasonal flu. Other groups of people such as pregnant

women, persons living in remote communities and those with underlying medical conditions are at a

greater risk for severe outcomes if they catch the pandemic H1N1 flu.

Like other flu virus, the H1N1 spreads from person to person through coughing and sometimes through

touching objects such as counters and doorknobs contaminated with the virus.

The symptoms begin quickly and include fever and cough and one or more of the following: fatigue,

muscle aches, sore throat, headache, decreased appetite, runny nose. Others have also experienced nausea,

vomiting or diarrhea. If you get flu-like symptoms and are pregnant or/and have underlying health

problems and your symptoms or chronic condition worsens then you should contact your health care

Clean by washing your hands often and keeping common surfaces clean.

Cover your coughs and sneeze into your arm, instead of your hands.

Contain the illness by staying home if you are sick until your symptoms are gone and you feel well

What are the benefits to receiving the pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine?

Vaccine is the best way to prevent pandemic H1N1 influenza. This year, there are vaccines for both types

of flu – one for the regular seasonal influenza, and one for the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus. Today you

It is similar to the seasonal influenza vaccine and is made the same way.

The vaccine is made of killed H1N1 influenza virus and cannot give you H1N1 influenza.

The vaccine contains an adjuvant (additive) that makes the vaccine work better. Adjuvants are

Pregnant women will be offered an unadjuvanted vaccine and can be given at any stage of the

pregnancy. If the pandemic influenza activity is high and the unadjuvanted product is not available

women who are more than 20 weeks pregnant should and can receive the adjuvant product.

This vaccine is provided free of charge to all Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans six months of

age and older. Visitors to this province may also receive the vaccine free of charge.

Who should receive the pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine?

Although all Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans should receive the vaccine, those most at risk will be

-Persons younger than 65 with chronic health conditions

-Persons living in remote and isolated settings or communities

Health-care workers involved in pandemic response or the delivery of essential health-care

Household contacts and care providers of person at high risk who cannot be immunized or may

You should not receive the pandemic influenza vaccine if you:

Had a severe allergic reaction to the seasonal influenza vaccine

Have a severe allergy to eggs or any of the ingredients of the vaccine or its container

Had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within 8 weeks of a previous influenza vaccine

People with serious acute illness should not receive the vaccine until their symptoms have cleared.

What are the risks to receiving the H1N1 influenza vaccine?

The most common side effects are a sore arm, redness and/or pain where the vaccine is given. This may

lasts up to two days. Other symptoms such as tiredness, headaches, muscle aches may occur and can start

within a few hours after the vaccination. Some people also get a fever for a day or two.

As it is with other vaccines there is an extremely rare chance that a severe life –threatening allergic

reactions could occur. If it does happen, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot.

Persons are asked to remain on site for at least 15 minutes after the vaccine is given so that possible

Please report to your community health/public health nurse if you or your child has a severe or

unusual reaction during the first four weeks after the vaccine or call HealthLine at 1 888-709-H1N1

Click on the lik below to download the consent form from Eastern Health