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State providing free flu shots for kids
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FarkSouth Dakota children and teenagers will be getting free flu vaccine in the next few weeks in a first-of-its kind initiative in the nation.
The aim is to protect children and to reduce the incidence of flu in the total population, state Health Department officials said.
"They're very efficient at spreading flu once they get it," Health Department spokeswoman Barb Buhler said. And children, especially very young children, are often hit hard by flu, she said.
State epidemiologist Dr. Lon Kightlinger said there has been a lot of interest in the children's vaccine. "We're shipping vaccine as we speak," he said in a phone interview Friday.
Some flu vaccine clinics for children have already been held in South Dakota, but most of the flu vaccine will be administered during the remainder of October and in early November in the state Health Department initiative. Most children's flu clinics in the West River area begin next week (see list).
Buhler cautioned parents that clinics may still charge for administering the free vaccine. But the fee for administering the shot can be waived if parents can't afford to pay. "If parents can't pay that, they can't be turned away," Buhler said.
The program is the first of its kind in the nation. Gov. Mike Rounds said the voluntary program will be an ongoing effort beyond this year.
"We're trying to build a behavior with people," Kightlinger said. "In South Dakota, we already have a good tradition of getting the flu vaccine. We're just trying to build a tradition among kids and parents."
The flu vaccine is free for children six months to 18 years of age. Children younger than nine need two doses if they're being vaccinated for the first time.
Children six months through eight years of age who received only one dose of flu vaccine in the first year they were vaccinated need two doses of vaccine in the second year.
The two doses should be given at least four weeks apart (at least six weeks if the inhaled vaccine is given.)
Kightlinger acknowledged that some parents have legitimate religious objections to getting flu vaccines for their children.
He said some parents and others have expressed concern about a mercury preservative that formerly was used in flu vaccine. But he said the flu vaccine that South Dakota is offering for children does not have mercury.
He said people worried about egg albumin in the flu shot can instead use the flu vaccine nasal mist.
Kightlinger said the Health Department hopes to gather information such as school absence rates to assess how well the children's flu vaccine initiative worked this year.
There is plenty of vaccine this year and it has arrived on time, Kightlinger said.
The vaccine this year is aimed at three strains of influenza, two "A" strains and one "B" strain.
No flu cases have been reported in South Dakota yet this season, but a few cases have appeared elsewhere in the country.
Kightlinger said residents shouldn't get lax about getting a flu shot just because the last few flu seasons have been mild.
The flu shots are relatively inexpensive and can prevent the flu or at least prevent people from becoming extremely sick, he said.
During the 2006-2007 flu season, 70 percent of people with the flu were infant to 19 years old, and 43 percent of people hospitalized for flu were children 10 years old and younger.
Other people at high risk that the Health Department encourages to be vaccinated include:
-- Pregnant women
-- People over 50
-- People with chronic medical conditions
-- People who live with or care for those at high risk, including relatives and health-care workers.
Contact Steve Miller at 394-8417 or steve.miller@rapidcityjournal.com
<b>Flu vaccination clinics<p>
Following is a partial list of child flu vaccination clinics. State Health Department officials say the list is not complete and parents are encouraged to contact their local childhood vaccine provider to find out about other clinics in their area.
-- Fort Pierre, Oct. 29, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Stanley County Elementary School.
-- Kadoka, Oct. 29, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Kadoka Schools.
-- Lead, Oct. 29-30, Lead-Deadwood Schools.
-- McIntosh, Oct. 24, McIntosh Schools.
-- New Underwood, Oct. 29, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., New Underwood Schools.
-- Rapid City, Oct. 29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pennington County Community Health Services.
-- Rapid City, Nov. 20, noon to 8 p.m., Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.
-- Sturgis, Oct. 29, Sturgis Brown High School.
<b>Common flu symptoms<p>
-- Fever (usually high)
-- Headache
-- Muscle aches
-- Chills
-- Extreme tiredness
-- Dry cough
-- Runny nose may also occur but is more common in children than adults
-- Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur but are more common in children than adults
Lynne Laird CNP, tells Aaron Hanson, 6, to look straight ahead as she administers a flu shot Friday afternoon at Westside Family Practice in Rapid City. State health officials are promoting flu shots for children both to protect the youngsters and to stem the spread of flu throughout the population. (Seth A. McConnell/Journal staff)
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