Schools will offer swine flu vaccine

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has obtained some quantities of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine and will begin giving students injections at two Ridge Spring/Monetta schools Monday, continuing with about half the Aiken County schools through Dec. 16.

Parents have received or will receive a permission form and can opt out of the administering of the injections if they choose. The Aiken County Board of Education approved the implantation of the vaccine program earlier this fall.

J.D. Lever Elementary School and North Aiken Elementary School will get the vaccine Tuesday. DHEC will visit North Augusta Elementary School Monday, Nov. 30, after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Some schools won't get the flu shots until January following the Christmas break, Aiken Associate Superintendent Dr. Cecilia Davidson said Wednesday.

"It is a concern that we cannot do all the schools before the (Christmas) holidays," she said. "I wish we could do them all next week. But that's not realistic when you look at the amount of vaccine available and the staffing that would be needed. DHEC is doing the best it can."

Parents whose children attend the first four schools on the schedule should have received the permission forms by now. Other parents should get the letter a week before DHEC visits their school.

The state agency is recommending that children get the H1N1 injection, and school district officials agree, Davidson said. The district is including a DHEC informational letter with the permission form, she said.

DHEC nurses will administer all injections. Nurses with the school district will provide assistance.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com or at 644-2391.

H1N1 vaccine school schedule through Dec. 16

(January schedule for remaining schools not yet available)

* Nov. 23 -- Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary/Middle and Ridge Spring-Monetta High schools

* Nov. 24 -- J.D. Lever and North Aiken elementary schools

* Nov. 30 -- North Augusta Elementary School

* Dec. 1 -- Belvedere and Clearwater elementary schools

* Dec. 7 -- Millbrook and Greendale elementary schools

* Dec. 8 -- Redcliffe Elementary and Jackson Middle schools

* Dec. 9 -- Aiken and Warrenville elementary schools

* Dec. 14 -- Jefferson and Gloverville elementary schools.

* Dec. 15 -- Byrd Elementary and Byrd Learning Center

* Dec. 16 -- Busbee Elementary and AL Corbett Middle schools