Stop Flu at School clinic info available

HONOLULU – The list of schools participating in this year’s school-located flu vaccination program, Stop Flu at School, is available on the Hawaii Department of Health’s website.

DOH will hold flu vaccination clinics in 167 public schools statewide from Nov. 1 through Dec. 21.

The state’s annual school-located vaccination program, “Stop Flu at School,” will be offered to all elementary and intermediate public schools on Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii counties.

To sign up for the free flu shots available to their children, parents or guardians should complete and sign provided consent forms, and return them to schools by Oct. 25.

Information packets and vaccination consent forms will be distributed to parents through participating schools in early October.

This marks the eleventh year of the Stop Flu at School program. Since 2007, nearly 600,000 flu vaccinations have been administered at more than 300 public, private, and charter schools statewide through this voluntary program.

The annual program, which provides flu vaccinations to school-age children at no cost to Hawaii families, is supported by federal funds and private contributions, resulting in a massive statewide coordination effort involving volunteers and local partnerships.

Program costs have previously totaled about $2 million per year.

This year, the department anticipates vaccinating 35,000 public school students through the program. Flu vaccination of students at school is an effective strategy for reducing the spread of influenza in our communities and protecting those at risk of serious illness.

Info: health.hawaii.gov/docd/about-us/programs/stop-flu-at-school/.