Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
The flu vaccine is moving into Utah schools this year. For the first time, Community Nursing Services is starting a pilot project where flu shots are being caravaned into special school clinics.
Because the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) this year wants flu shots for all kids from 6 months to 18 years old, Community Nursing Services is contracting with school districts to offer the vaccine inside school walls.
"As a vaccine-for-children provider, we are able to offer immunizations to children without insurance or who are underinsured in addition to those who are insured. So, this is just a huge opportunity for children to get immunized against the flu," said Mavis McAffee, immunization coordinator for Community Nursing Services.
Through no fault of their own, children are vectors, or spreaders and carriers, of disease. So the CDC this year considers immunizing kids against the flu as a first-line defense to protect the community as a whole.
Community Nursing Services has already administered about 10,000 doses of the vaccine to adults and children. They've got another 20,000 coming in about two weeks, and this is just one agency only. So there's plenty of vaccine to go around.
In these school settings, as well as other locations, Community Nursing Services and other clinics do offer thimerosal-free vaccine for those who want it.
"In order to prevent contamination in a multi-dose vile, you've got to have some kind of preservative there, and that's why the mercury or thimerosal, is primarily used," explained Becky Ward, spokeswoman for the Utah Department of Health.
Ward says that trace amount of mercury in the regular vaccine is extremely small -- way within the bounds considered under safe standard practices by the FDA. But some parents, especially pregnant mothers, prefer that option.
For a list of locations where you can get the flu vaccine, click the related link to the right of the story.
E-mail: eyeates@ksl.com
