Francis Howell announced this morning in an e-mail to staff and parents that it has a limited amount of vaccine and will hold its first vaccination clinic for priority students and staff on Saturday.

The e-mail is below:

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Plans for the distribution of H1N1 vaccine in the Francis Howell School District continues to evolve based on updated guidelines from the CDC and St. Charles County Department of Health. Because the initial available quantities of the vaccines are limited, the recommended target groups of FHSD students and staff to receive the initial doses have been re-prioritized to include:

• Pregnant women
• Persons who live with or provide care for infants under the age of 6 months
• Children aged 6 months to 24 years
• Adults 25-64 who have certain medical conditions, including asthma, diabetes, neuromuscular disease and weakened immune systems

After these initial priority groups of FHSD students and staff are vaccinated, and as vaccine availability increases, we will continue to work our way through the priority groups at our schools and eventually expand vaccinations to all students and then all staff.

At this time, the District has a limited amount of vaccine, but is expecting an additional shipment later this week. Due to the current limited availability of the H1N1 vaccine, the District will vaccinate students and staff members in the above priority groups on a first come, first served basis.

The District will be holding a vaccination clinic on Saturday, November 7^th

from 9:00 - 11:30 AM in the Hollenbeck Middle School Cafeteria.

On the District’s website you can download the immunization consent form and vaccination information sheets from the Centers for Disease Control for the H1N1 Flu Shot and the H1N1 Nasal Spray. The vaccination information sheets address the benefits and risks of vaccination, including different indications for live versus inactivated vaccines. Please be sure to thoroughly review both vaccine information sheets so you are aware of the two types of vaccines available (shot and nasal spray) and the possible restrictions for each type.

The District is committed to helping our students stay healthy, as demonstrated by our volunteering to be a vaccination site. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for definitive information regarding vaccine quantities and delivery date. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work with and through the County Health Department on these issues.

Thank you,

Dr. Renée Schuster

Superintendent