Oct 6, 2009 11:36 pm US/Eastern
Broward Schools Approve Plan For Free H1N1 Shots
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
Students in the Broward County school system will be able to get a H1N1 vaccine shot for free, thanks to a new program announced by the Broward County School District. The district approved a plan to vaccinate more than 255,000 students if their parents give approval to the schools.
"The disease has been widespread but has been -- up to this date -- relatively mild. We have been fortunate but we still need to make sure we are protecting our children who -- as you know -- are in the high priority group for vaccination," said Broward County Health Department Director Dr. Paula Thaqi.
School officials say federal money would be used to pay for the vaccine and district personnel would administer the shots during the school day. Children under the age of 10 will need two doses. Staff members and school volunteers would also be eligible for the free vaccinations.
Still, despite doctors saying vaccinations are the best way to help protect children from disease, many parents were still trying to determine whether or not to allow their children to take the H1N1 vaccination.
"I didn't agree when they had the chicken pox vaccination mandatory at the schools and my child received the vaccination and broke out with the chickenpox. so I'm not gonna give him the vaccination if it's optional," said parent Gayle Siegel.
"If they're healthy, fighting kids that eat right, I think that I would take my chances rather than put a virus through their system," said parent Tamara Trop.
The massive undertaking will begin on October 19th, will be overseen by the health department and could take up to five weeks to complete.
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