HoCo Schools Stop Seasonal Flu Shots

From HoCo schools:

Dear Parents of Elementary School Children,

In early August you received a letter with the details of the Howard County Health Department's plans to hold multiple seasonal flu vaccination clinics for elementary school-aged children. Unfortunately local health officers have recently been informed by Maryland State Secretary of Health John Colmers that the state is suspending the School FluMist® Program due to distribution challenges with the seasonal flu vaccine.

Cancellations of school and health department clinics for seasonal influenza vaccinations are occurring statewide. As a result, Howard County’s after-school flu clinic scheduled for October 8 for elementary school-aged children is cancelled as well. To date, the FluMist® administration was held in 16 of our 39 elementary schools.

At this time, it is unclear if or when the vaccine will be available. County health officials encourage parents to contact their primary care providers and local pharmacies regarding vaccine availability. Although these services may come at a cost, they feel that this vaccination is the best way to prevent the seasonal flu.

The H1N1 vaccine is now being distributed to state health departments. Information about the H1N1 vaccine administration in Howard County will be shared as soon as county health officials have the vaccine and have finalized a vaccination schedule.

Additional information is available by calling Kristine Holmes, R.N., School FluMist® Coordinator at 410-313-7528. Thank you for your understanding.


Donna Heller, RN, MHSA, CSN

HCPSS Health Services Coordinator