Contact: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department and Fayette County Public Schools are partnering to offer free, voluntary H1N1 vaccinations to students at school.

Families will be able to choose a flu shot or nasal mist for their children. Consent forms must be returned to school no later than Wednesday, Jan. 13. If the forms are not completely filled out and signed with permission granted, students will not receive the vaccination. The in-school vaccination clinics start Tuesday, Jan. 19.

• Consent form | en Espanol
• Clinic schedule  (subject to change)

 “We want as many Fayette County children to be protected against H1N1 flu as possible,” said Dr. Melinda Rowe, commissioner of health. “The best protection is to get the H1N1 vaccine. In order to do this, we’ll help provide voluntary school-located H1N1 vaccination clinics for families who have difficulty scheduling an appointment at the health department or their health-care provider.”

In a Jan. 5 news conference at the school district’s main office, Rowe talked about how influenza viruses tend to come in waves and emphasized the goal is to vaccinate as many people as possible during this lull.

Note: People allergic to eggs or with a previous bad reaction to a flu shot cannot get the H1N1 vaccine at school and should contact their family doctor for further guidance.

For more information, visit www.LexFluCrew.com or call (859) 288-7529.

School district contact: Michelle Marra, (859) 288-2314, michellew.marra@ky.gov

Media contact at the health department: Kevin Hall, (859) 288-2384, KevinS.Hall@ky.gov