Vaccinate for Success
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On Oct. 9, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a rapid increase in the deaths of children and teenagers from the H1N1 virus ["H1N1 Deaths Among Youths Rise as Epidemic Spreads," news story, Oct. 10].
While the vaccine is now available, some parents are hesitant to get their children inoculated. According to a recent Associated Press poll, while nearly six in 10 parents are likely to give permission for their children to get the swine flu vaccination at school, just 37 percent said they're very likely to. This is unfortunate, because the risks of H1N1 are high.
H1N1 is a serious threat to our children's health. With 76 child fatalities since April and 19 such deaths reported across the country in the week ending Oct. 3, the number of such deaths from H1N1 threatens to surpass in a short time the average annual total of deaths among children from regular flu.
Schools, with the help of school nurses and school-based health centers, are just one of many places where parents can get their children vaccinated quickly and conveniently. School-based health centers also provide a number of primary care and mental health services to students, right in schools.
I urge parents to get their children vaccinated. The vaccine can not only save lives, but it also can help keep children healthy and ready to learn, and it can help keep schools open by preventing widespread outbreaks.
By keeping kids healthy and in school, we can improve their chances of academic success.
LINDA JUSZCZAK
Executive Director
National Assembly
on School-Based Health Care
Washington
