District News

H1N1 vaccination clinics for students held Dec. 1 and 3

About 2,600 public and non-public school students received the H1N1 influenza vaccine during clinics at the Maple Avenue Middle School and the Saratoga Springs High School on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and Thursday, Dec. 3. The free vaccinations were administered by staff from the Saratoga County Public Health Nursing Service. The school district provided the locations for the clinics to enable large numbers of students to access the vaccine.

In the photo above, Saratoga County Public Health nurse Annie Franzese administers the H1N1 vaccine to an elementary student Dec. 1 at the Maple Avenue Middle School. Below, another elementary student receives a shot from public health nurse Joanne Killian.

Parents of all 6,800 students in the school district, in addition to those in non-public schools, had the opportunity to sign up for the vaccine. The deadline for submitting consent forms was Nov. 16.

The Dec. 1 clinic at the Maple Avenue Middle School served students at the middle school and the Dorothy Nolan, Caroline Street and Greenfield elementary schools. During the Dec. 3 clinic at the high school, the vaccine was administered to high school students, BOCES students, and those from the Division Street, Geyser Road and Lake Avenue elementary schools. Students from the following schools were also vaccinated on Dec. 3 at the high school: St. Clement's Regional Catholic School, Saratoga Central Catholic High School, the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Independent School, the Wildwood School, and Head Start.

Each clinic began at about 8 a.m. and was concluded before noon. Participating students who do not attend the middle or high schools were bused to the clinic sites by the school district's transportation service. Staff from the participating schools rode with students on the buses.

A "booster" H1N1 vaccination clinic for students 9 years of age and under is scheduled for
Wednesday, Jan. 6, at the Maple Avenue Middle School. A second dose of H1N1 vaccine is needed to develop adequate immunity in that age group. For more on that clinic, click here.