District Headlines

H1N1 flu vaccine now available to all groups

Anyone over 6 months of age can get H1N1 vaccine now at health care providers and pharmacies.

Though flu illness seems to have peaked locally, at least temporarily, H1N1 illness continues in the community, and vaccination is the best wait to protect against H1N1 influenza.

Public Health is recommending that King County healthcare providers continue to aggressively vaccinate persons in target populations. This includes:

Pregnant women

People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age

People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old

People between 25 through 64 years of age with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems

Healthcare and emergency workers

In addition to persons in target populations, any person 6 months of age and older who desires to be protected against H1N1 influenza may now be vaccinated. People should continue to contact their health care providers for H1N1 vaccine. Vaccine is also available at selected local pharmacies.

For more information, visit the Public Health-Seattle and King County Web site.

Shoreline Public Schools works closely with the local, state, and national health agencies to investigate any illnesses and/or infections and or to deal with any potential H1N1 (Swine) or seasonal flu outbreaks.

H1N1 ("swine") Flu in people is characterized by fever, sore throat, cough, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, and often nausea or diarrhea. The illness may last up to seven days, but people are considered to be contagious as long as symptoms persist.

According to Public Health - Seattle and King County, if you or your child has the flu, it is very likely that it is H1N1 influenza. To avoid spreading the flu, please stay at home until any fever is gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines. Most people do not need to a lab test to confirm H1N1 influenza. Testing for flu is necessary only when people are sick enough to be hospitalized.

Shoreline Public Schools wants to remind parents and staff members of the importance of prevention and how to stay safe.

Quick flu tips for parents and caregivers (pdf)

Home with Flu (pdf)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends four main ways you and your family may keep from getting sick with the flu at school and at home:

Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands.
Stay home if you or your child is sick for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever or signs of a fever of more than 100.3 degrees (without the use of fever-reducing medicine). Keeping sick students at home means that they keep their viruses to themselves rather than sharing them with others.
Get your family vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines are available.

Follow these steps to prepare for the flu during the 2009-2010 school year:

Plan for child care at home if your child gets sick or their school is dismissed.
Plan to monitor the health of the sick child and any other children in the household by checking for fever and other symptoms of flu.
Identify if you have children who are at higher risk of serious disease from the flu and talk to your healthcare provider about a plan to protect them during the flu season. Children at high risk of serious disease from the flu
include: children under 5 years of age and those children with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma and diabetes.
Identify a separate room in the house for the care of sick family members.
Update emergency contact lists at your child’s school.
If your child is sick and must stay home, check their teacher's Web site for assignments and contact information.
Please use the following absence codes when reporting your child absent:
HA: Asthma - Wheezing, Short of Breath
HD: Dental Condition/Appointment
HF: Cold or Flu - Fever, Body Aches, Sore Throat
HH: Headache
HI: Injury/Accident
HM: Medical Appointment
HO: Other Health Condition
HR: Rash - Red Spots, Fever, Chills
HS: Stomach Symptom - Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea

For more information:

Visit: Public Health–Seattle and King County's H1N1 Influenza Web Site.
Contact Public Health–Seattle and King County Flu Hotline:
877-903-KING (5464). TTY Relay: 711. Available
in English and Spanish/Español.

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