H1N1 Vaccine

Dear Bement Parents,

We expect to receive our first shipment of H1N1 influenza vaccine from the MA Department of Public Health in the near future.  We would like to administer the vaccine to all students.  Please review the attached Vaccine Information Statement and return a signed consent form to Bement if you would like your child to receive the H1N1 vaccine.

Children 10 years old and older will only need a single dose of the vaccine.  Children 9 years old and younger will require two doses of the vaccine, administered about a month apart.

Because we do not expect to receive enough vaccine with the first shipment to vaccinate all students at once, we plan to administer the first doses of the vaccine to students who are at a higher risk of complications. These are students with a history of chronic lung disease including asthma, diabetes, other chronic diseases or immune systems compromised by disease or medical treatments.  If your child falls into this higher priority group, please indicate on the consent form.

Thank you for your patience as this process unfolds for us all.  Please feel free to contact the Health Center (nurses@deerfield.edu) if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Thomas Hagamen, MD

Medical Director

Deerfield Academy Health Center

(413) 772-1118 fax

thagamen@deerfield.edu

H1N1 Information

Vaccine Consent Form

Parents can return forms to school with students, or via Fax: 413.774.7863