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JCPS prepares for H1N1 vaccine delivery, schoolwide vaccinations

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by Stephanie Collins

Posted on November 3, 2009 at 6:50 PM

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Jefferson County Public Schools and the Health Department are set to announce the largest vaccination program in recent history.

 Louisville's health department will begin public vaccination clinics and the school system will begin vaccinating students by the end of the month.

The swine flu vaccine finally may be headed to Jefferson County Residents, until now, the county's allocation of 70,000 vaccines has gone to private health care providers and hospitals but soon it will be at clinics and in the schools.

We've watched as Indiana residents get the H1N1 vaccine and Kentucky counties run out. But the wait for Jefferson County residents may soon be over.

In the next weeks, an information packet and permission slip will be sent home to every Jefferson County Public School student.

When the vaccine arrives, the schools want to be ready.

The first public clinics in Jefferson County will be limited to those at high risk of contracting the virus from those who are pregnant to children with chronic medical conditions.

When vaccine becomes available it is sent from the state's Department of Public Health to the 56 health departments across Kentucky.

There isn't a hidden formula for distribution it is they say all based on population and up to each health department to decide how it will be distributed.

With limited vaccine it's an ambitious schedule, more than half the state's population including all Jefferson County students.

It's a monumental test with life and death consequences.

Children under 10 need 2 shots and the school system tells us that they can provide one, the health department or doctor's office the second dose.

Wednesday, the health department plans to announce its plan on when and where the community can line up for the shot.

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