November 30, 2009 Update

Ask the Experts:  H1N1 Influenza

A question and answer brief that provides healthcare professionals with answers to some of the most common asked questions related to the H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccination.  From the Immunization Action Coalition

Novel H1N1:  What you should know

Q&A from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.  

October 29, 2009 Update

H1N1 Vaccination Locations in Chicago

For Chicago residents who do not have a doctor or whose doctor does not plan to give H1N1 vaccinations, CDPH will offer H1N1 flu vaccinations at six locations across the city (listed below).

The vaccinations are for people at increased risk for flu and flu complications

• pregnant women
• all children and young adults ages 6 months to 24 years
• people who live with and/or care for infants younger than 6 months of age
• people age 25-64 with chronic health conditions (like asthma or diabetes)
• health care workers

The six locations are:

• Kennedy King College, 6301 S. Halsted
• Olive Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn
• Richard J. Daley College, 7500 S. Pulaski
• Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson
• Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western
• Wright College, 4300 N. Narragansett

The locations will be open to serve Chicago residents at increased risk on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays---starting Saturday, October 24.  Hours of operation are 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturdays.  No appointments are necessary, and all vaccinations will be delivered free of charge, on a first come/first served basis.

Flyers (in both English and Spanish) about the H1N1 vaccination locations are below.

H1N1_English_and_Spanish.pdf (397 KB)

FAQs about H1N1 Influenza Vaccine

The National Association of School Nurses recently published the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions brochure to answer common questions about the benefits and minimal risks of being protected against seasonal and H1N1 influenza with both vaccines. The brochure answers questions about how to stay healthy, whether to get vaccinated and how serious the flu is.

October 6, 2009 Update

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have published vaccine information statements for the H1N1 flu shot and H1N1 nasal spray vaccine. 

September 24, 2009 Update

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued resources (under school guidance documents) to help collaboration between schools and local health departments in dealing with the H1N1 influenza virus. Includes a guidance in a question-and-answer format on tracking influenza-like illness and absenteeism in schools.

The U.S. Department of Education wants to make sure students keep learning in the event of a flu outbreak. The federal agency, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, recently issued an H1N1 Continuity of Learning Guidance for schools to help plan for the fall flu season, which includes the threat of H1N1 influenza.

September 11, 2009 Update

Chicago Public Schools, in conjunction with the Chicago Department of Public Health, has developed a letter for parents to educate them on H1N1. The letter, available in both English and Spanish, includes guidelines on when students should remain home from school and information on children who may be at increased risk for serious implications from H1N1.

Also available are fact sheets for parents about H1N1 in multiple languages. 

August 27, 2009 Update

Below are flu resources for schools from Chicago Public Schools, Illinois State Board of Education and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
Please visit CPS' website for the latest updates on preparing for the upcoming flu season, which is expected to include both the regular flu and the H1N1 (swine) flu.

According to CPS, it is important that everyone try to follow these simple everyday steps to protect their health:

• If possible, try to avoid contact with people who are ill.
• If you have to cough or sneeze, don't do it in your hand. Use a Kleenex or cover your mouth with your sleeve.
• Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash hands often with soap and water. 
• If soap and water is not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
  

On its website, CPS has two videos of elementary schools demonstrating the most important things everyone can do to prevent the spread of germs: hand washing at Smyth Elementary, 1059 W. 13th St., and cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze at Ortiz de Dominguez Elementary, 3000 S. Lawndale Ave.

Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
H1N1 resources from ISBE can be found here. ISBE's website includes a swine flu vaccination letter (in English and Spanish) for parents from the State Superintendent of Education and Director of Illinois Department of Public Health. The letter encourages parents to have their children vaccinated against seasonal flu and H1N1 influenza viruses.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC has released Preparing for the Flu (including 2009 H1N1 Flu): A Communication Toolkit for Schools (Grades K-12). The toolkit includes:

• Questions and Answers about CDC's Guidance for State and Local Public Health Officials and School Administrators for School (K-12) Responses to Influenza during the 2009-2010 School Year
• 2 Fact Sheets to Inform Schools and Teachers
• 3 Fact Sheets to Inform Parents
• Information on Where to Find Posters for Schools about Flu Prevention
• 2 Template Letters (or E-mails) for Schools to Send to Parents
  

August 8, 2009 Update

"Bracing for a resurgence of swine flu cases, federal officials on Friday advised U.S. schools to send sick children home with masks this fall but otherwise stay open unless they serve many students with certain medical conditions," according to an August 8, 2009 article in the Washington Post.

Under conditions with similar severity as in spring 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) new recommended school responses for the 2009-2010 school year are as follows:

• Stay home when sick: Those with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay home even if they are using antiviral drugs.
• Separate ill students and staff: Students and staff who appear to have flu-like illness should be sent to a room separate from others until they can be sent home. CDC recommends that they wear a surgical mask, if possible, and that those who care for ill students and staff wear protective gear such as a mask.
• Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette: The new recommendations emphasize the importance of the basic foundations of influenza prevention: stay home when sick, wash hands frequently with soap and water when possible, and cover noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or a shirt sleeve or elbow if no tissue is available).
• Routine cleaning: School staff should routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often with the cleaners they typically use. Special cleaning with bleach and other non-detergent-based cleaners is not necessary.
• Early treatment of high-risk students and staff: People at high risk for influenza complications who become ill with influenza-like illness should speak with their health care provider as soon as possible. Early treatment with antiviral medications is very important for people at high risk because it can prevent hospitalizations and deaths. People at high risk include those who are pregnant, have asthma or diabetes, have compromised immune systems, or have neuromuscular diseases.
• Consideration of selective school dismissal: Although there are not many schools where all or most students are at high risk (for example, schools for medically fragile children or for pregnant students) a community might decide to dismiss such a school to better protect these high-risk students.
  

Under conditions of increased severity compared with spring 2009, CDC may recommend additional measures (e.g., active screening, school dismissals, having students with ill household members stay home, etc.) to help protect students and staff if global and national assessments indicate that influenza is causing more severe disease.

May 7, 2009 Update

Change to CDC's Interim Guidance on Closing Schools
Since the swine flu virus has turned out milder than initially feared, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has changed its guidance on schools closings. CDC no longer recommends school or childcare closures in communities with a laboratory-confirmed case of swine flu. Rather, schools should focus on keeping all students, faculty and staff with symptoms of influenza out of schools for at least 7 days, even if symptoms resolve sooner.

CDC recommends the following as the primary means to reduce the spread of influenza in schools:

• Early identification of ill students and staff;
• Staying home when ill; and 
• Good cough and hand hygiene etiquette. CPS' website includes videos of CPS students demonstrating the importance of hand washing and how to cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze.
  

A statement by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and by Acting CDC Director Dr. Richard Besser regarding the change in CDC's school and child care closure guidance can be found here.

CPS flu updates can be found here.

April 30, 2009 Update

Additional Swine Flu Information for Schools
In response to the emergence of the swine flu in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released recommendations for schools in order to mitigate the spread of the disease. Click here to access the current recommendation letter.

IDPH's website has a page dedicated to swine flu and a specific section for schools.

Click here to access the school pandemic planning guidance available on the Illinois State Board of Education's website.

To stay up-to-date with the most recent Chicago Public Schools swine flu news, please visit CPS' website here.

April 29, 2009 Update

Swine Flu Information for Schools
As the recent outbreak of swine flu in the US and around the world dominates the news, the Stakeholders Collaboration to Improve Student Health wants to share with you some basic tips for protecting your staff and students from swine flu.

The Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago's (RHAMC's) most recent newsletter includes everyday steps that you can take to help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. In addition, RHAMC's fact sheet "Swine Flu 2009: The Basics" provides background information on the virus.

The American Academy of Pediatrics' website contains information on swine flu and includes a link to an excerpt of "Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools: A Quick Reference Guide, 2nd Edition" (Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) website has information for educators and staff on preventing the flu, as well as, materials and tools for schools. CDC also provides the following recommendations for schools and childcare facilities when human infection of swine flu is confirmed in a community.

School Dismissal and Childcare Facility Closure:

• Dismissal of students should be strongly considered in schools with a confirmed or a suspected case epidemiologically linked to a confirmed case.
• Decisions regarding broader school dismissal within these communities should be left to local authorities, taking into account the extent of illness in the community.
• If the school dismisses students or a childcare facility closes, they should also cancel all school or childcare related gatherings and encourage parents and students to avoid congregating outside of the school.
• Schools and childcare facilities should dismiss students for a time period to be evaluated on an ongoing basis depending upon epidemiological findings.
• Schools and childcare facilities should consult with their local or state health departments for guidance on reopening. If no additional confirmed or suspected cases are identified among students (or school-based personnel) for a period of 7 days, schools may consider reopening.
• Schools and childcare facilities in unaffected areas should begin to prepare for the possibility of school dismissal or childcare facility closure. This includes asking teachers, parents and officials in charge of critical school-associated programs (such as meal services) to make contingency plans.
  

According to the Chicago Department of Public Health, there has been a confirmed case of swine influenza at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School in Rogers Park. As a precautionary measure, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has been advised to close Joyce Kilmer Elementary until further notice. Additional information can be found at CPS' website here.