H1N1 Flu Vaccine
Reminder: Please return your H1N1 vaccine consent form to your school office.
This page was last updated on November 10, 2009. Please notify me when this page is updated.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools, in partnership with the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health, will offer an in-school student vaccination program for the H1N1 flu. This vaccine will be offered to all students enrolled in Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Click here to find other locations in Virginia Beach offering the H1N1 vaccine. So that all of our parents understand how the program will proceed, we offer the following important information. |
Virginia Department of Health Hotline: 1-877-ASK-VDH3 (Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) |
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| Fact Sheet H1N1 Flu Shot |
Student Consent Form |
Fact Sheet H1N1 Flu Shot  Fact Sheet H1N1 Flu Shot (Chinese) Fact Sheet H1N1 Fl Flu Shot (Russian) Fact Sheet H1N1 Flu Shot (Spanish) |
Student 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Consent Form Student 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Consent Form (Spanish) |
| Fact Sheet H1N1 Nasal Spray | Staff Consent Form |
| Fact Sheet H1N1 Nasal Spray Fact Sheet H1N1 Nasal Spray (Chinese) Fact Sheet H1N1 Nasal Spray (Russian) Fact Sheet H1N1 Nasal Spray (Spanish) |
Staff 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Consent Form Updated 10-23-09 |
Q. When will the H1N1 flu vaccine be available at my child's school?
The H1N1 flu vaccine will be available to students beginning on October 21. Dates and times for each individual school's H1N1 vaccination clinic will be communicated to the parents of every student by a phone call using the AlertNow notification system. Students in the elementary level will receive the H1N1 vaccination first, followed by students in the middle and high school levels.
Q. Why is it important for my child to receive the H1N1 vaccine?
Every flu season has the potential to cause illness, hospitalizations, and sometimes, even deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified school-age children as a priority group to receive the H1N1 vaccine. The CDC is concerned that the new H1N1 flu virus could result in a particularly severe 2009-2010 flu season. The H1N1 flu vaccine is the most effective tool to prevent the H1N1 flu.
Q. Is there any reason my child should not receive the H1N1 flu vaccine?
It is recommended that all students receive the H1N1 flu vaccine. To ensure parents make the right decision for their child, important information about the benefits and risks of both the H1N1 flu shot and H1N1 nasal spray vaccines are included in this publication. Parents are also encouraged to discuss any concerns about the H1N1 vaccine with their children’s physicians.
Q. My child recently had a flu-like illness and our family physician advised me this was probably the H1N1 flu. Will my child need to receive the H1N1 vaccine? (10/23/09)
Yes. If your child had a flu-like illness between April 2009 and the present time, the CDC is recommending that all school-age children receive the H1N1 vaccine. Even if your child had a confirmed or suspected case of the H1N1, he or she may not have established immunity to this virus. Without the vaccination, your child may not be protected from the H1N1 flu. The H1N1 flu vaccine is the most effective tool to prevent the H1N1 flu.
Q. My child’s health care provider prescribed an antiviral drug in response to treating flu-like symptoms. Is my child eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine? (11/03/09)
Yes. If your child is taking an influenza antiviral drug (including Tamiflu© or Relenza©) he or she is eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccination shot at any time. However, your child must wait at least 48 hours after the last dose of antiviral medication was given before receiving the H1N1 nasal mist vaccine.
Q. What if my child is not eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine due to an illness or absence from school the date of the vaccination clinic?
In these cases it is recommended you contact your health care provider to make arrangements to receive this vaccine. The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health is an excellent resource to assist you with locating an alternate source for the H1N1 flu vaccine. To locate an alternate source for the H1N1 flu vaccine, call the health department hotline at 1.877.ASK.VDH3. You may also visit vdh.virginia.gov or healthyvb.com.
Q. What must I do in order to have my child receive the H1N1 vaccine in school?
In order for your child to receive the H1N1 vaccine in school, the attached Student 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Consent Form must be completed, signed, and returned to your school office, prior to your school’s scheduled vaccination clinic. Parents will receive a phone call notifying them of the date of their child's H1N1 vaccination clinic with a reminder to complete and return the consent form to school.
Q. I have more than one child enrolled in the school division. Can I use the Student 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Consent Form attached to this publication for all my children?
A separate Student 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Consent Form is required for each child receiving the H1N1 vaccine.
Q. If I am with my child when they receive the H1N1 flu vaccine in school, may I receive the vaccine as well?
Parents/guardians may accompany their child for the in-school vaccine. However, parents are not eligible to receive the vaccine. The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health will publicize where non-students may obtain an H1N1 vaccination in our area.
Q. My child has already received a seasonal flu shot, will he or she still need to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine?
The seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against H1N1 flu. It's important for you to know that the H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine– it is intended to be used along with the seasonal flu vaccine.
Q. I understand the H1N1 flu vaccine will be administered as a nasal spray or shot. May I specify which vaccine my child is to receive?
Parents will not be able to request which type of H1N1 vaccine their child will receive. The type of H1N1 vaccine your child receives will be determined by the nurse administering the vaccine and the availability of vaccine. The best option for those who want a choice is to schedule the vaccination through their children’s physician.
Q.Will every child be required to receive a second dose of the H1N1 flu vaccine and is there a recommended length of time between receiving the first dose of H1N1 vaccine and the second dose? (11/10/09)
At this time, the CDC is recommending a second dose of the H1N1 flu vaccine for children 9 years of age and under. According to the CDC, the second dose of the H1N1 vaccine should be given at least 28 days after the first dose.
If your child is not able to participate in the second clinic, you will need to ensure he or she gets the second vaccination through a family physician.
Q. Will there be a charge for my child to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine?
The H1N1 vaccine will be administered at no cost.
Q. Since the H1N1 flu vaccine will be available at my child's school, will the school nurse be administering the vaccine?
The H1N1 vaccine will not be administered by the school nurse. A vaccine administration team that includes Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) will administer the vaccine to all students.
Q. My child reports to his/her home school each morning and is transported to another school/center for the remainder of the school day. Will my child have an opportunity to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine in school?
Students attending academic programs at the Advanced Technology Center, the Technical and Career Education Center, and the Governor’s School for the Arts, will have the opportunity to receive the H1N1 vaccine at their home school.
Q. If my child attends a private school, can they receive the H1N1 vaccine at one of the public schools in Virginia Beach? (10/23/09)
No. Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ in-school vaccine program is targeted ONLY for students enrolled in the school division. Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ in-school vaccination program was implemented in partnership with the Virginia Beach Health Department to target the largest school-age population in Virginia Beach. Parent(s) of a student/students enrolled in a school other than Virginia Beach City Public Schools, should contact their health care provider or call the Virginia Department of Health Hotline at 1-877-ASK-VDH3 to determine the availability of the H1N1 vaccine. Parents may also check healthyvb.com for dates and times of clinics as the vaccine becomes available.
Q. Besides school, are there other places where my child can receive the H1N1 flu vaccine?
Yes. Although the school division is making the H1N1 vaccine available to all students, it is possible that your family’s health care provider will be administering this vaccine. Call your health care provider to confirm his or her participation. Currently, there is no list available of providers who will be vaccinators. For information regarding availability of the H1N1 vaccination through the Virginia Beach Health Department, please visit the web site healthyvb.com or call 757.518.2700. For general H1N1 information, call the Virginia Department of Health Hotline at 1.877.ASK.VDH3 or visit their web site at vdh.virginia.gov.
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