Health Commissioner Julia Sheen and Education Commissioner Dr. LaVerne Terry announced today that beginning next week, free H1N1 vaccines will be offered to students in the Territory.

The vaccine will be administered to students in primary grades at public schools territorywide beginning November 30, 2009, as the H1N1 virus has proven to affect young and school age children. 

Sheen said that a schedule for private and parochial schools will be released later and that the initial scheduling for public school students was based on the incidence of Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) reported at each school and the number of parental forms received for a particular school:

"Vaccination is the best protection against the H1N1 virus and that the Health Department recommends that children get vaccinated. The H1N1 vaccine is similar to seasonal flu vaccines which have a very good safety track record and safety is paramount for the CDC which works with health departments nationwide, to ensure that all who fall into a priority group get vaccinated."

Dr. Terry said that some parents of public school students still have not returned the required consent forms that were sent home with students last month and is urging them to do so. 

Parents who do not have the consent forms can accompany their children on the date that school-based vaccinations are scheduled at a particular school. A physician and a team of nurses will be administering vaccines from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on those days.

For more information, parents can contact (340) 773-1311, Ext. 3280 or 3240.

The initial schedule for school-based vaccination is as follows:

SCHOOL-BASED VACCINATION SCHEDULE