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School-based Flu Clinics
A recent study done by the Georgia Department of Education showed that there is
a direct correlation between the number of school absences and graduation rates.
The more days missed in schools significantly reduces the graduation rate.
Similarly, the more days a student is present in school, the higher the CRCT
scores are.
Because a student with flu will miss a significant number of days from school,
flu vaccines become even more important. Local health officials recognize that
flu vaccines can reduce the number of days missed from school, which will
increase their academic performance.
For the past three years, our local Health Departments have held school-based
influenza vaccination clinics in some of the schools in our health districts.
Because of the successes of these school clinics and many like them throughout the
nation, the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Department of
Education are jointly supporting the effort to reach an even greater number of
children who otherwise might never receive proper vaccine protection this fall.
The value of reducing absences and medical morbidity in students, faculty,
staff, and parents as a result of these clinics has been shown to be highly
significant. Our goal is to immunize over 50% of all the children against
influenza.
Parents and guardians will be sent information regarding the benefits of
vaccinations, along with encouragement to take their children to their private
physicians when possible. Explanations of the contraindications for receiving
various forms of the vaccine, a permission form, and a description of the
process within the school for administration of the vaccines will be provided
for those who elect to have them vaccinated in the school clinics. Although
parents will be invited to attend their children at the time of our scheduled
clinics in the schools, they are not required to be present.
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