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Warrick Co. has six schools vaccinated

By Becky Graham - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Sarah Harlan - email

WARRICK CO., IN (WFIE) - Not every county in the country is facing H1N1 setbacks.

Half of the elementary school students in Warrick County have had their vaccine now, and by Friday, the number of school-age children vaccinated will reach 1,100.

So why haven't other school corporations followed in their footsteps?

When the Warrick County Health Department gives out their H1N1 vaccines in schools, they make sure they have enough to cover everyone.

That goes along with the EVSC policy, but they said it's taking them longer to receive enough vaccines.

How do you make limited supplies of the H1N1 vaccine go a long way?

The Warrick County Health Department's answer is go to the schools.

"The nasal mist, the best target for that are the school kids," Frank Hijuelos with the Warrick Co. Health Dept. said. "It's easier to do. Kids don't like shots. Plus there's been some discussion is the nasal mist isn't as effective on adults as it is on children?"

Wednesday, the numbers prove they got this one right.

In less than three weeks, the health department has administered the nasal mist at six schools.

That's half of the elementary schools in the county.

Friday, they'll add Yankeetown and Sharon Elementary to the list.

"We've done about 800 children in schools, and by Friday we would have 300 more," Hijuelos said.

The method has been effective in Warrick County, but Evansville Vanderburgh schools are not following suit.

"In Warrick County where they have been doing it in the schools, they haven't been doing it in their big schools, but in the small schools where they have enough vaccine to cover," EVSC spokesperson Marsha Jackson said. "So once we get enough vaccines and the Vanderburgh County Health Department tells us they want to do it in their schools, we will be letting parents know."

The EVSC hopes to have vaccines by November.

At that time they'll hold after school clinics.

"The number of vaccine the health department get will determine where we go," Jackson said.

Regardless of when the vaccines arrive, both school systems are taking this approach to ensure all their students are protected.

"The nasal spray at schools is a great idea that seems to be working," Hijuelos said. "The parents don't have to take time off. They just have to make a decision 'yes' or 'no.'"

The Warrick County Health Department has two upcoming H1N1 clinics for their residents. There will be one Thursday starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Warrick County Health Department, and one next Tuesday, at 10:00 a.m. for pregnant women only.

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